Systems and methods for curing composite structures
A composite curing system includes system includes a constraining container and an expandable medium. The constraining container includes a base and a cover and has an interior volume. The constraining container is configured to enclose at least a portion of a composite structure. The expandable medium configured to be disposed within the interior volume between at least a portion of the constraining container and the composite structure. The interior volume of the constraining container is selectively variable.
1 . A system comprising:
a constraining container comprising a base and a cover and having an interior volume, wherein the constraining container is configured to enclose at least a portion of a composite structure; and
an expandable medium configured to be disposed within the interior volume between at least a portion of the constraining container and the composite structure,
wherein the cover comprises a plurality of walls and wherein at least one of the walls is movable relative to at least another one of the walls to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cover of the constraining container further comprises an overlay.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the at least the one of the walls relative to at least another one of the walls to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable medium is disposed between at least the one of the walls of the cover and the composite structure.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of walls comprises:
side walls; and
a top wall; and
the top wall is movable relative to the side walls to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the top wall relative to the side walls.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the expandable medium is disposed between the top wall and the composite structure.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of walls comprises:
side walls;
a top wall; and
a cap; and
the cap is sealed to the side walls and is movable relative to the side walls and the top wall to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the expandable medium is disposed between the top wall and the cap.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable medium is configured to expand to a predetermined volume when a predetermined change is produced in an attribute of the expandable medium such that the expandable medium applies positive pressure to the composite structure and the cover of the constraining container.
11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the positive pressure.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the expandable medium comprises expandable pellets;
the expandable pellets are thermally activated at an activation temperature; and
the expandable pellets are configured to expand when a temperature of the expandable pellets is raised up to the activation temperature.
13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a casting disposed between the expandable medium and the composite surface of the composite structure,
wherein the casting is configured to harden.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of walls comprises:
side walls; and
a top wall; and
at least one of the side walls is movable relative to at least another one of the side walls and the top wall to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the at least one of the side walls relative to the at least another one of the side walls and the top wall.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the expandable medium is disposed between the at least one of the side walls and the composite structure.
17 . A system comprising:
a constraining container configured to enclose at least a portion of a composite structure and comprising a base and a cover and having an interior volume, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of walls and at least one of the walls is movable relative to at least another one of the walls;
an actuator configured to move the at least the one of the walls relative to at least another one of the walls to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container; and
an expandable medium disposed within the interior volume between at least one of the walls and the composite structure.
18 . A system comprising:
a constraining container comprising a base and a cover and having an interior volume, wherein the constraining container is configured to enclose at least a portion of a composite structure; and
an expandable medium configured to be disposed within the interior volume between at least a portion of the constraining container and the composite structure,
wherein the cover comprises a plurality of side walls and an overlay, and wherein at least one of the side walls is movable relative to at least another one of the side walls to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the at least the one of the side walls relative to at least another one of the side walls to selectively vary the interior volume of the constraining container.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the expandable medium is disposed between the overlay and the composite structure.