Optimum design of composite laminates for minimum thickness

• Published in: Computers & structures Vol. 86; no. 21; pp. 1974 - 1982
• Main Authors: Akbulut, Mustafa, Sonmez, Fazil O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Classical lamination theory; Computational techniques; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Global optimization; Laminated composites; Mathematical methods in physics; Optimal design; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Laminated composites; Global optimization; Classical lamination theory; Optimal design; Stratified material; Rupture; Global optimum; Fracture criterion; Layer thickness; Modeling; Composite material; Optimization; Weight; Search algorithm; Load capacity; Simulated annealing; Loadbearing capacity; Fiber orientation
• ISSN: 0045-7949; 1879-2243
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compstruc.2008.05.003

In this study, an optimization procedure is proposed to minimize thickness (or weight) of laminated composite plates subject to in-plane loading. Fiber orientation angles and layer thickness are chosen as design variables. Direct search simulated annealing (DSA), which is a reliable global search algorithm, is used to search the optimal design. Static failure criteria are used to determine whether load bearing capacity is exceeded for a configuration generated during the optimization process. In order to avoid spurious optimal designs, both the Tsai–Wu and the maximum stress criteria are employed to check static failure. Numerical results are obtained and presented for different loading cases.