Object-Oriented Approach for Multi-Objective Optimum Design on Strength and Stiffness of Composite Laminates

Abstract

A system for designing the stacking sequence of a laminated plate by using an object-oriented programming system was presented in this paper. In this system, not only stiffness of a laminated plate but also its strength was considered simultanuously based on a normalized objective function for optimization. The system uses two optimization methods. One is called the sequential decision process and the other the branch and bound process. These two methods were tested and compared. As a result, the sequential decision process was found to be excellent for an actual design process. However, large variation of the stacking number with small variation of applied load was observed in the sequential decision process. To avoid this, a new approach was proposed and shown to be excellent.