TY - JOUR

T1 - Optimum mass design of laminated plates with longitudinal mid-surface voids

AU - Williams, F. W.

AU - Ye, Jianqiao

PY - 1992/4/17

Y1 - 1992/4/17

N2 - This paper investigates a new type of fibre laminated composite plate which has a series of equally spaced voids at the central layers of the cross-section, which run for the full length of the plate and have a constant rectangular cross-section. The plate is represented as a prismatic structure which consists of a series of thin, flat, rectangular strips that are rigidly connected together (eccentrically where necessary) along their longitudinal edges and simply supported at their ends. Optimization of such plates is studied with the objective of minimizing their mass, Ply thickness and fibre orientation are designed under a buckling constraint consisting of either pure longitudinal compression or pure in-plane shear, for both longitudinal edges either simply supported or clamped. The mass saving compared with a plate without voids is presented in graphical form, the variables being the number, thickness and width of the voids. A substantial mass saving is observed for virtually all the cases considered in the paper and approximate methods are shown to be significantly inaccurate when compared with the exact curves presented.

AB - This paper investigates a new type of fibre laminated composite plate which has a series of equally spaced voids at the central layers of the cross-section, which run for the full length of the plate and have a constant rectangular cross-section. The plate is represented as a prismatic structure which consists of a series of thin, flat, rectangular strips that are rigidly connected together (eccentrically where necessary) along their longitudinal edges and simply supported at their ends. Optimization of such plates is studied with the objective of minimizing their mass, Ply thickness and fibre orientation are designed under a buckling constraint consisting of either pure longitudinal compression or pure in-plane shear, for both longitudinal edges either simply supported or clamped. The mass saving compared with a plate without voids is presented in graphical form, the variables being the number, thickness and width of the voids. A substantial mass saving is observed for virtually all the cases considered in the paper and approximate methods are shown to be significantly inaccurate when compared with the exact curves presented.

U2 - 10.1016/0045-7949(92)90143-N

DO - 10.1016/0045-7949(92)90143-N

M3 - Journal article

VL - 43

SP - 265

EP - 272

JO - Computers and Structures

JF - Computers and Structures

SN - 0045-7949

IS - 2

ER -