A review on the design of laminated composite structures: constant and variable stiffness design and topology optimization

The advantages of laminated composite structures make them attractive in industrial applications. To achieve the maximum advantages of the composite structures, the design optimization is of great importance. This paper classifies and compares various optimization problems and methods in laminated composite structure design. Three kinds of problems are illustrated in this paper: constant stiffness design, variable stiffness design, and topology optimization. The main optimization methods used in laminated composite structure design, including the gradient-based methods, heuristic methods, and hybrid methods, are presented. The advantages and shortcomings of each method are discussed in detail. Finally, constant and variable stiffness design and topology optimization of laminated composite structures which have been solved in literature are reviewed.