Abstract
In the present study, a mechanism of fractal image of laminates on lamination parameters is discussed in detail, and a stacking sequence optimization method using the mechanism is proposed for complicated structures that include both of in-plane and out-of-plane lamination parameters. The new method employs branch and bound method for the optimizations of stacking sequences. For the estimation of the fractal branch of stacking sequences, the new method requires approximation of the objective function of the optimizations with quadratic polynomials using both in-plane and out-of-plane lamination parameters. The new method is applied to a stacking sequence optimization problem of a maximization of buckling load of a composite cylindrical shell structure. The method gives successfully optimal stacking sequences and validity was confirmed of this new method.
