Abstract
A new design method is proposed here to maximize the fundamental frequency of laminated composite plates reinforced by optimally shaped curvilinear fibers. Spline functions represent arbitrarily shaped fibers and the Ritz solution generates frequency equations. The optimum curvilinear shapes are searched for the maximum fundamental frequencies using genetic algorithms, and the increments of data points which define the spline shape are used as design variables under limitation of undulation. Comparison of the present analysis method with finite element method gave good agreement in terms of eigen frequencies and vibration modes, and the optimization results showed that the present plate with optimally shaped curvilinear fibers gives higher or equal fundamental frequencies when it is compared with the conventional plate with parallel fibers.
