Optimization of Laminated Composite Structures

Laminated composite materials are widely used in the design of light weight high performance structures like wind turbine blades and aeroplanes due to their superior stiffness and strength-to-weight-ratios compared to their metal counter parts. Furthermore, the use of laminated composite materials allows for a higher degree of tailoring of the resulting material. To enable better utilization of the composite materials, optimum design procedures can be used to assist the engineer. This PhD thesis is focused on developing numerical methods for optimization of laminated composite structures.
The first part of the thesis is intended as an aid to read the included papers. Initially the field of research is introduced and the performed research is motivated. Secondly, the state-of-the-art is reviewed. The review includes parameterizations of the constitutive properties, linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of structures, buckling and post-buckling analysis of structures, and formulations for optimization of structures considering stiffness, buckling, and post-buckling criteria. Lastly, descriptions, main findings, and conclusions of the papers are presented.
The papers forming the basis of the contributions of the PhD project are included in the second part of the thesis. Paper A presents a framework for free material optimization where commercially available finite element analysis software is used as analysis tool. Robust buckling optimization of laminated composite structures by including imperfections into the optimization process is the topic of Paper B. In Paper C the design sensitivities for asymptotic postbuckling optimization are derived. Furthermore, optimization formulations are introduced and demonstrated for optimum post-buckling design.