Design Optimization of Composite Cylindrical Shells under Uncertainty

Journal
Computers, materials & continua  
Volume
32
Start Page
177-200
Citation
Computers, materials & continua 32 (3) : 177-200 (2012)
Publisher DOI
10.3970/cmc.2012.032.177
Publisher Link
http://www.techscience.com/cmc/v32n3/27911
Peer Reviewed
true
Four different approaches for the design of axially compressed cylindrical shells are presented, namely (1) the knockdown factor (KDF) concept, (2) the single perturbation load approach, (3) a probabilistic design procedure and (4) the convex anti-optimization approach. The different design approaches take the imperfection sensitivity and the scatter of input parameters into account differently. In this paper, the design of a composite cylinder is optimized considering the ply angles as design variables. The KDF concept provides a very conservative design load and in addition an imperfection sensitive design, whereas the other approaches lead to a significantly less conservative design load and to a less imperfection sensitive design configuration. The ways in which imperfection sensitivity is treated by the different approaches and how these influence the optimal design configuration is discussed.