Study on bending and tensile properties of a T-shaped hook-connected structure made of two-and-a-half-dimensional woven composites and laminated composites

In this paper, a kind of T-shaped hook-connected structure, which consists of a T-shaped plate made of two-and-a-half-dimensional woven composites and a groove structure made of T300/BMP316 laminated composites, was designed as the simulator specimen of the connection structure between the vane and the case in an aero-engine. As the bending strength and tensile strength are important mechanical properties, bending tests and tensile tests, respectively, of the T-shaped hook-connected structure were conducted to study the mechanical properties and failure modes under bending and tensile loads on web. Experimental results showed that the initial damages both occur at the root-edge, and then the damages extend to the root-middle during the bending test or extend perpendicular to the root-edge to the margin of the flange during the tensile test. Then, a strength prediction method based on the progressive damage theory was developed to simulate the mechanical properties and damage processes of the T-shaped hook-connected structure under bending and tensile loads, respectively. Compared with experimental results, the maximum error is less than 10%, and the damage modes are similar.