Optimization of laminated composite cylindrical shells to maximize resistance to buckling and failure when subjected to axial and torsional loads

The most frequently encountered structure in design is the cylindrical shell. This study analyzed, methods to optimize the design of a composite cylindrical shell against buckling and failure. Buckling and failure characteristics were investigated when an axial load, a torsional load or both loads were applied simultaneously. Optimization of the composite cylindrical shell was performed with respect to a loading boundary condition using a genetic algorithm. All analyses were performed numerically using finite element analysis. By optimizing the layer angle of the laminate composite, the buckling load of the cylindrical shell was maximized. The thinwalled shell with the strongest resistance to failure was achieved by optimizing the angle of the composite layer based on the Tsai- Wu composite failure theory. The optimized composite cylindrical shell exhibited significantly improved mechanical properties compared to the conventional design.