Buckling Optimization of Variable Thickness Composite Plates Subjected to Nonuniform Loads

Abstract

Optimization of heterogeneous composite aerospace structures that operate in a range of temperatures is considered. It is observed that heterogeneous composite plates optimized to operate at a fixed service temperature may perform poorly when that temperature is varied, that is, those plates may be highly sensitive to thermal loadings. A strategy is presented to obtain optimal designs of heterogeneous composite plates that operate within a given temperature range and under arbitrary mechanical loading, such that the significant and undesired sensitivity of these optimal designs to both thermal and mechanical loadings are effectively suppressed. It is assumed that the mechanical loading distribution is arbitrarily piecewise linear and that the operating temperature is within a specified range. Hence, the applied loadings are uncertain or not fixed in nature. Results for heterogeneous composite plates demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy proposed and the danger of utilizing composite designs sensitive to variations in the thermal and mechanical loadings.