A bio-inspired embedded composite stiffener for improved damage tolerance

Abstract

In this work we develop a bio-inspired stiffened composite panel which exhibits superior damage tolerance in comparison to a traditional stiffened composite panel. A variety of structures use composite panels which are stiffened via bonded or co-cured composite stiffeners. However, these structures are vulnerable to suffering from rapid debonding of stiffeners, particularly when a fracture propagates to the stiffened region