Material selection using an improved Genetic Algorithm for material design of components made of a multiphase material

A component may be made of different materials in its different regions to satisfy different requirements from its applications. The materials can be homogeneous ones and heterogeneous ones that include composites, functionally graded materials and heterogeneous materials with a periodic microstructure. For such a component, its design should be implemented from function requirements to its geometry, to material properties, and to material microstructures and/or constituent compositions. This paper develops a detailed approach and its corresponding computer software prototype for selecting optimal material constituent compositions and microstructures according to the determined or optimized material properties using an improved Genetic Algorithm. As an example for applying the approach and the corresponding software prototype, the material selection of different regions for a special cantilever beam made of multiphase materials is also described in the paper. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.