Aeroelastic tailoring of composite structures

A wing-design optimization study is conducted on a composite wing. The objective is to evaluate the effect of the composite layup orientation on the optimized weight while satisfying constraints on strength, roll-reversal velocity, and flutter velocity. The wing optimization studies are presented with the composite layups oriented at 5-deg increments up to +/-20 deg from the midspar of the wing. The multidisciplinary optimization system, ASTROS, was used in the design study. This study, although not conclusive, indicates that optimal designs when subjected to multiple structural constraints are relatively insensitive to the orientation of the laminate layup.