Optimal design of laminated composite plates with dynamic and static considerations

A multilevel approach to the optimal design of laminated composite plates with the consideration of natural frequency, damping and deflection is presented. Ply thicknesses and orientations are designed to minimize the volumes of the plates subjected to constraints on the first natural frequencies, dampings of the first vibration modes and deflections induced by the applied loads. The optimization process is carried out in a double scheme where the quasi-Newton method is used for the determination of optimal ply orientations at the first level of the optimization process and an optimality criteria method for the determination of optimal ply thicknesses at the second level. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the applications of the proposed approach.