Harmony Search Optimisation of Dispersed Laminated Composite Plates

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Designing structural components requires maximizing buckling load while minimizing cost and weight.
• Laminated composite plates are crucial in various engineering applications.
• Optimizing material layup is key to enhancing structural performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the harmony search algorithm for maximizing the buckling load of dispersed laminated composite plates.
• To investigate the impact of dispersed stacking sequences on buckling performance.
• To compare optimized dispersed sequences with traditional fiber angle arrangements.

Main Methods:

• Harmony search algorithm utilized for optimization.
• Ply thicknesses and fiber orientation angles as design variables.
• Optimization performed on carbon/epoxy, boron/epoxy, and glass/epoxy plates with varying aspect ratios.

Main Results:

• Dispersed stacking sequences achieved higher buckling loads compared to regular sequences (0°, ±45°, 90°).
• The harmony search algorithm effectively optimized the plate designs.
• Performance improvements were consistent across different materials and aspect ratios.

Conclusions:

• Dispersed stacking sequences offer superior buckling performance for laminated composite plates.
• The harmony search algorithm is a viable tool for optimizing composite plate design.
• Optimized dispersed layups provide a pathway to more efficient and robust structural components.