Optimization of sound transmission through laminated composite cylindrical shells by using a genetic algorithm

This paper presents an optimization study of symmetric laminated composite cylindrical shells to minimize the transmitted sound using the genetic algorithm (GA) approach. First, an exact solution is obtained by simultaneously solving the vibration equation of a laminated composite shell and acoustic wave equations. Second, the ply orientation angles and material type of the structure are treated as the design variables in order to maximize the sound transmission loss through the shell. The GA approach is used to optimize these variables. To demonstrate the efficiency of the method, the optimized results are compared with a special case of laminated composite as a reference. It is concluded that the optimum ply orientation angles found by using the GA approach help the designer to reduce the number of plies, which leads to a lightweight laminated composite shell with good sound-insulating properties.