Stiffness optimization of orthotropic laminated composites using lamination parameters

The paper presents an efficient stiffness optimization approach on orthotropic laminated composites using lamination parameters. It is efficient to use lamination parameters as design variables since the stiffness components of laminated composites are expressed as a linear function of lamination parameters in the classical lamination theory. As an example of stiffness optimizations, the buckling optimization of orthotropic laminated cylindrical shells under combined loadings is treated using a mathematical programming method. The present approach shows good convergence behaviors for the optimum design and gives reliable optimization results.