Multi-objective optimization of a composite rotor blade cross-section Original Composite Structures, Volume 96, February 2013, Pages 75-81

Swaroop B. Visweswaraiah, Hossein Ghiasi, Damiano Pasini, Larry Lessard

Research Article

Abstract
This paper deals with the optimization of the ply angles and the internal geometry of a composite helicopter blade with a D-spar internal construction. The design involves the simultaneous optimization of several conflicting objectives such as: attaining three stiffness parameters, minimizing the blade mass and the distance between the mass-center and the aerodynamic-center. Optimization methods with a priori and a posteriori articulation of preferences are used to solve the problem. Among the a priori approaches, the minmax approach is used to transform multiple objective functions into a single criterion which is optimized with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Alternatively, the design problem is tackled using a posteriori approach by using our in-house Nondominated Sorting Hybrid Algorithm (NSHA). The results obtained with NSHA demonstrate trade-off designs which could not be captured with the minmax approach. The multi-objective approach allows identifying a window of 10% adjustment in mass and 20% adjustment in the distance between the mass center and the aerodynamic center with no significant deviation from the target stiffness vector. Furthermore, we have observed that the target stiffness vector can be attained more easily if the internal geometry, besides the ply angles, is considered as a design variable.

Article Outline o o o o o o o o
4.1. Target stiffness design using minmax approach (Case 1) 4.2. Target stiffness design using NSHA (Case 2) 4.3. Target stiffness vs. mass (Case 3) 4.4. Target stiffness vs. MCAC distance (Case 4) 5. Conclusion Appendix A. Blade modeling 3.2.1. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) 3.2.2. Non-dominated Sorting Hybrid Algorithm (NSHA) 3.1.1.1. Case 1(a) 3.1.1.2. Case 1(b) 3.1.2. Case 2 3.1.3. Case 3 3.1.4. Case 4 3.2. Optimization methods 3.1.1. Case 1 3.1. Problem formulation 1. Introduction 2. Blade modeling 3. Composite blade optimization

4. Results and discussion

References Robust design optimisation of advance hybrid (fibermetal) composite structures

Original Research

Article
Composite Structures, Volume 99, May 2013, Pages 181-192 DongSeop Lee, Carlos Morillo, Sergio Oller, Gabriel Bugeda, Eugenio Oate

Abstract
Hybrid Composite Structures (HCSs) are consisting of alternating layers of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer and metal sheets. Mechanical properties and responses for off-design conditions of HCSs can be improved using an innovative methodology coupling Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm and robust design method. The concept of robust design approach ensures that a structure will be tolerant to unexpected loading and operating conditions. In this paper, two applications are considered; the first is to maximise the stiffness of the HCS while minimising its total weight through a Multi-Objective Design Optimisation. The second application considers a Robust MultiObjective Design Optimisation (RMDO) to minimise total weight of HCS and to minimise both, the normalised mean displacement and the standard deviations of displacement, considering critical load cases. For the optimisation process, a distributed/parallel Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm in robust multi-objective optimisation platform is used and it is coupled to a Finite Element Analysis based composite structure analysis tool to find the optimal combination of laminates sequences for HCSs. Numerical results show the advantages in mechanical properties of HCS over the metal structures, and also the use of RMDO methodology to obtain higher characteristics of HCS in terms of mechanical properties and its stability at the variability of load cases.

Article Outline o o o o o o o
4.2.1. Problem definition 4.2.2. Design variables 4.2.3. Numerical results 4.1.1. Problem definition 4.1.2. Design variables 4.1.3. Numerical results 4.2. Robust design optimisation of fiber metal laminated composite structures 4.1. Multi-Objective Design Optimisation of Hybrid Composite Structure 2.1. Multi-Objective Design Optimisation 2.2. Robust design optimisation 2.3. Robust Multi-objective Optimisation Platform 3. Composite structure analysis tools 4. Advance hybrid (fibermetal) composite structure design optimisation 1. Introduction 2. Methodology

5. Conclusions References Optimization of composite sandwich cylinders for underwater vehicle application

Original Research

Article

Composite Structures, Volume 96, February 2013, Pages 691-697 Gyeong-Chan Lee, Jin-Hwe Kweon, Jin-Ho Choi

Abstract
This study aims to use optimization to increase the design load of composite sandwich cylinders under external hydrostatic pressure. Unlike other studies that only consider buckling, this study took into account both buckling and material failure. MSC.NASTRAN was used for the finite element analysis, while a micro-genetic algorithm was used for the optimization. The finite element model was validated by comparison with the experiment results, and the result of the optimization using the finite element method was validated by comparison with the result of the feasible region analysis. Based on the optimization, as the thickness of the sandwich increases, the buckling load becomes larger than the material failure. Consequently, the optimum point is determined by material failure. The current results suggest that both the buckling and the static material failure should be considered in the design of the composite sandwich cylinder.

Article Outline o o o o o o
3.1. Problem description 3.2. Feasible regions 3.3. Results of optimization 4. Conclusion Acknowledgements References 2.1. Cylinder fabrication and tests 2.2. Finite element model 2.3. Validation of finite element model 3. Optimization of the composite sandwich cylinder 1. Introduction 2. Validation of finite element analysis