Thermo-Mechanical analysis and optimization of composite vascular T-joint using ABAQUS

Three-dimensional thermo-mechanical finite element (FE) analyses were conducted to investigate the effect of vascular networks on thermal residual stresses and joint strength under 90° tensile (pull-off) loading. The study focuses on self-healing fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) incorporating a continuous vascular system.In aerospace structures, T-joints—often referred to as ‘T-pieces’ or ‘T-sections’—are widely used in components such as turbine vanes, stringers, wing spars, and fuselage assemblies. The typical layup sequence in the over-laminate section of a T-joint is {(0°/−45°/90°/45°)₂/0}s. Damage was introduced within the block stack comprising the 0° and 90° ply regions.The placement of vascular networks within the deltoid region was found to be highly sensitive to their exact positioning. Nevertheless, the system demonstrated the ability to preserve mechanical performance to a considerable extent