Stacking sequence optimization of laminated plates

Abstract

Optimum fiber orientations of laminated composite plates for the maximum strength are found under multiple inplane loading conditions. Tsai-Wu failure criterion is taken as objective function. Based on the state space method, effective optimal design formulation is developed and solution procedure is described with the emphasis on the method of calculations of the design sensitivities. Numerical results are presented for the several test problems. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.