Non-linear design and control optimization of composite laminated plates with buckling and postbuckling objectives

Multiobjective design and control optimization of composite laminated plates is presented to minimize the postbuckling dynamic response and maximize the buckling load. The control objective aims at dissipating the postbuckling elastic energy of the laminate with the minimum possible expenditure of control energy using a closed-loop distributed force. The layer thicknesses and fiber orientations are taken as design variables. The objectives of the optimization problem are formulated based on a shear deformation theory including the von-Karman non-linear effect for various cases of boundary conditions. The non-linear control problem is solved iteratively until an appropriate convergence criterion is satisfied based on Liapunov-Bellman theory. Liapunov function is taken as a sum of positive definite functions with different degrees. Comparative examples for three-layer symmetric and four-layer antisymmetric laminates are given for various cases of edges conditions. Graphical study is carried out to assess the accuracy of results obtained due to the successive iterations. The influences of the boundary conditions, orthotropy ratio, shear deformation, aspect ratio on the laminate optimal design are elucidated. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.