Importance

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Abstract

Composite laminar structures which exhibit nonlinear surfaces and which exhibit a variable ply angle relative to a defined axis and methods of forming the same are disclosed. A change in ply angle may be induced by the formation of a ramp structure, such as by the introduction of one or more adjacent or periodically placed plies of varied width. Varied width plies may be introduced by cutting or trimming the width of a nominal width ply during lay-up of the composite material. In another embodiment, the ramp structures may be formed by introducing multiple sections of composite material, each of which exhibits a substantially serpentine profile along an edge thereof so as to define a plurality of fingers extending transversely relative to the respective length of each section. The plurality of sections may then be layered adjacent to one another, or periodically dispersed, with each respective set of fingers being offset relative to the set of fingers of a next closest layer.

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First Claim