INSERTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THROUGH THICKNESS REINFORCEMENT IN A LAMINATED MATERIAL

There is disclosed a method of providing through-thickness reinforcement in a laminated material (20). A guide foot (104) is moved to a datum location relative the laminated material (20)， at which the guide foot (104) abuts a reinforcement zone on a surface of the laminated material. An insertion operation is conducted by inserting a insertion element (112， 122， 212) through the guide foot (104) into the laminated material (20) along an insertion direction when the guide foot (104) is in the datum location. The insertion element comprises a needle (112) for forming a hole (23) in the laminated material (20); a reinforcement rod (122) to be received in the laminated material (20); or a tamping pin (212) for tamping a reinforcement rod received in the laminated material. A corresponding insertion apparatus (100， 200) is disclosed.