Continuous forming of fiber composite materials

A process for continuously forming a transverse bend in a workpiece of a fiber-containing composite material, comprising the steps of:

• supplying the workpiece of the fiber-containing composite material having fibers embedded within a matrix, the workpiece having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction defined therefor;
• passing the workpiece in the transverse direction through apparatus having a bending roller extending in the longitudinal direction over substantially an entire length of the workpiece and defining a forming zone adjacent to the bending roller, the bending roller permanently bending the composite workpiece by
• introducing a net bending deformation into the workpiece,
• placing the workpiece into a vacuum forming bag, and
• progressively propagating the introduced net bending deformation transversely through the workpiece as the workpiece is moved in the transverse direction, the propagating being accomplished such that the transverse laminar length of the workpiece remains substantially unchanged during the forming process, the workpiece remaining in the vacuum forming bag during the step of progressively propagating;
• and
• applying a tension loading across the entire workpiece in the transverse direction to the forming zone, from outside of the forming zone.