Optimal Design of Skin and Stiffener of Stiffened Composite Shells Using Genetic Algorithms

유전자 기법을 이용한 복합재 보강구조물 외피 및 보강재의 적층각 최적설계

An efficient method was developed in this study to obtain optimal stacking sequences, thicknesses, and minimum weights of stiffened laminated composite shells under combined loading conditions and stiffener layouts using genetic algorithms (GAs) and finite element analyses. Among many parameters in designing composite laminates determining a optimal stacking sequence that may be formulated as an integer programming problem is a primary concern. Of many optimization algorithms, GAs are powerful methodology for the problem with discrete variables. In this paper the optimal stacking sequence was determined, which gives the maximum critical buckling load factor and the minimum weight as well. To solve this problem, both the finite element analysis by ABAQUS and the GA-based optimization procedure have been implemented together with an interface code. Throughout many parametric studies using this analysis tool, the influences of stiffener sizes and three different types of stiffener layouts on the stacking sequence changes were throughly investigated subjected to various combined loading conditions.