A method of through-thickness reinforcing a laminated material

摘要

A method of providing through-thickness reinforcement of a laminated material (100) which includes a matrix material (130) including a step of creating a locally heated zone (180) in the laminated material so as to locally soften the matrix material by focussing a set of at least two energy beams (160) at a location where through-thickness reinforcement is required and a step of inserting a reinforcement element (140) through the thickness of the laminated material at the location of the locally heated zone to through-thickness reinforce the laminated material.