Strengthening of composite T-joints using novel ply design approaches

This study assesses three different and novel design approaches to increase the failure stress and elastic damage limit of T-shaped structural joints made of carbon fibre-epoxy composite. The ply orientations to the laminate within the T-joint radius bend, which is highly susceptible to delamination failure, were designed using a numerical optimisation method and two design-of-experiment methods to increase the failure load. Finite element...