Strength improvement to composite T-joints under bending through bio-inspired design

This paper shows that a bio-inspired design methodology is an effective method to strengthen composite T-joints under bending loading. The ply angles in the laminate of a carbon/epoxy T-joint were tailored using an optimisation program mimicking the evolutionary process of adaptive growth in which the wood microfibril orientation in and around the tree branch-trunk joint is tailored to the prevailing bending loading condition. A single objective...