Buckling topology optimization of laminated multi-material composite shell structures

The design problem of maximizing the buckling load factor of laminated multi-material composite shell structures is investigated using the so-called Discrete Material Optimization (DMO) approach. The design optimization method is based on ideas from multi-phase topology optimization where the material stiffness is computed as a weighted sum of candidate materials, thus making it possible to solve discrete optimization problems using gradient based techniques and mathematical programming. The potential of the DMO method to solve the combinatorial problem of proper choice of material and fiber orientation simultaneously is illustrated for multilayered plate examples and a simplified shell model of a spar cap of a wind turbine blade. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.