Three-Dimensional Intelligent Finite Element Method for Design of Composite Structures

Design of Symmetric Laminates by Shell Element

Abstract

A computer program of the three-dimensional intelligent finite element method by using shell element has been developed in order to obtain the optimum fiber orientation and the optimum stacking sequence of laminate composites. In this paper, the strength of laminate is set as the design object. As the numerical example, the determination of fiber orientation in each layer of a laminated plate under uniformly distributed pressure has been carried out. The optimum fiber orientation and the optimum stacking sequence are obtained from the material database until the strength satisfies the design object by computer. As the result, it is recognized that the proposed method is very useful for the structural design of composites.