A braided composite spar (10) or preform for a braided composite spar, comprising a plurality of tubular plies of braided fibres, wherein the spar (10) or preform extends lengthwise from a root(10a) to a tip (10b), and the spar or preform has a tapered portion (25) in which each ply has a height which reduces and a width which increases as it extends toward the tip. The spar (10) or preform can be used to provide a tubular main spar for a winglet (5). The winglet (5) also has a front spar (11) with a front spar web (16), an upper front spar cap (17), and a lower front spar cap (18). An upper skin (19) of the winglet (5) is joined to the braided spar (10) and the upper front spar cap (17). A lower skin (20) of the winglet (5) is joined to the braided spar (10) and the lower front spar cap (18).
Braided composite spar
2015-12-09
Patent
Electronic Resource
English