In this paper we present a novel laminate parametrization technique for layered composite structures that can handle problems in which the ply angles are limited to a discrete set. In the proposed technique, the classical laminate stiffnesses are expressed as a linear combination of the discrete options and design-variable weights. An exact `1 penalty function is employed to drive the solution ...

Ant colony optimization (ACO) is a class of heuristic algorithms proposed to solve optimization problems. The idea was inspired by the behavior of real ants, related to their ability to find the shortest path between the nest and the food source. ACO has been applied successfully to different kinds of problems. So, this manuscript describes the development and application of an ACO algorithm to...

This paper deals with the development of a new three-dimensional element with two-dimensional kinematic constraints capable of analysing the mechanical behaviour. of the laminated anisotropic shell-type structures. This element, originally developed for the linear 'analysis of plates, is extended for the linear analysis of laminated composite shells. The element can represent arbitrarily curved...

Fiber-reinforced laminated composites are frequently preferred in many engineering projects. With the development in production technology, the using of the fiber reinforced laminated composites has been increasing in engineering applications. In the production stage of the fiber-reinforced laminated composites, porosities could be occurred due to production or technical errors. After a level o...

the present paper investigates the advantages of a new class of composite grid structures over conventional grids. thus far, a known grid structure such as orthogrid or isogrid has been used as an orthotropic layer with at most in-plane anisotropy. the present laminated grid is composed of various numbers of thin composite grid layers. the stiffness of the structure can be adjusted by choosing ...

This research presents, buckling and free vibration analysis of fiber metal-laminated (FML) plates on a total and partial elastic foundation using the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). The partial foundation consists of multi-section Winkler and Pasternak type elastic foundation. Taking into consideration the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), FML plate is modeled and...

This article provides a fully analytical approach for nonlinear equilibrium path of rectangular sandwich plates. The core of structure is made of symmetric cross-ply laminated composite and the outer surfaces are piezoelectric actuators which perfectly bonded to inner core. The structure is subjected to electro-thermo-mechanical loads simultaneously. One side of plate is rested on Pasternak typ...