Abstract
To enhance the mechanics and self-healing properties of the self-healing composite, this study introduces an innovative optimization method for variable-angle fiber-reinforced self-healing composites with microtubule network carriers. The study aims to minimize macroscopic structural compliance and carrier head loss. Firstly, a topological description function (TDF) for the self-healing composite was introduced, taking into account the configuration and geometry of the macroscopic structure and microtubule network carrier as design variables. Secondly, the relationship between the fiber laying angle and component spindle direction was established. An element stiffness matrix for variable-angle fibers was derived to determine the compliance of the self-healing composite. Then, the microtubule network head loss was calculated based on the Hardy Cross method. Finally, by integrating the Moving Morphable Component (MMC) method and the enumeration method, a dual-scale collaborative optimization framework was developed. The set of double-objective Pareto non-inferior solutions of the self-healing composite was obtained by iteration. Numerical examples show that (1) under the same optimization conditions, the non-inferior solution set of variable-angle fiber design is superior to those of fixed-angle fiber designs (0°, 45°, and 90°). (2) Compared with single-objective (compliance) optimization of the carrier-free composite, the Pareto solution set of the variable-angle dual-scale collaborative optimization can provide a better compliance optimization solution, and the maximum compliance solution of the solution set is only 10.64% higher. This paper proposes a method combining variable-angle and dual-scale collaborative optimization, which provides a useful reference for the topology design of a self-healing composite.