Topology Optimization of Laminated Composite Plates and Shells using Optimality Criteria

Laminated composite materials have the advantage of desired properties and are vastly replacing the existing traditional materials in Civil Engineering construction. In the present study, it is aimed to extend the study on the analysis of laminated composites plates and shells towards structural optimization. Topology optimization is performed using two different objective functions namely strain energy and fundamental frequency. The results of optimization have shown clearly that the distribution of material is dependent on the laminae. The optimal arrangement of material is obtained after using a cut-off relative density. It is confirmed to be a well-connected grid and is examined in detail. The results have shown that the optimal arrangement of material for a simply supported plate carrying a uniformly distributed load is at the centre of the edges and not towards the corners, Hence, the optimal arrangement of beams using strain energy is to align by joining the centre of the edges similar to plus (+) sign.