A comparative analysis of evolutionary algorithms in the design of laminated composite structures

The increased use of composite materials and structures in many engineering applications led to the need for a more accurate analysis and design optimization. While methods of stress-strain analysis developed faster, optimization techniques have been lagging behind. As a result, many designed structures do not fulfill their full potential. The present study demonstrates the major achievements in recent years in an application of evolutionary algorithms to the design optimization of fiber-reinforced laminated composite structures. Such structures are of much interest due to high structural design sensitivity to fiber orientations as well as complex multidimensional discrete optimization problems. Using an anisotropic multilayered cylindrical pressure vessel and an exact elasticity solution as an example, we show how the optimum, or near–optimum, solution can be found in a more efficient way.