Optimization of composite plates subjected to buckling and small mass impact using lamination parameters

The small mass impact, such as runway debris and dropped tools, is a major issue during the design of composite plates, as it may significantly reduce the plate strength and stiffness without any visible damage. This work presents a novel optimization procedure to maximize the critical buckling load of composite plates subjected to small mass impact considering impact response and delamination threshold load predicted by closed forms solutions. The optimization is based on lamination parameters combined with laminate databases. In the first phase of the optimization a simplified model is used to obtain an approximate optimum. A design optimization using refined finite element model starting from the previous phase optimum is performed. The proposed algorithm is efficient, robust and applicable to many optimization problem for composite plates. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.