Optimum Design of Laminated Composite Plates Using Lamination Parameters

When laminated composite plates are symmetric and orthotropic, their in-plane and flexural stiffnesses become the functions of the lamination parameters that are the functions of their stacking sequences. We use the lamination parameters as fundamental design variables in designing laminates. The feasible region of the lamination parameters is obtained on a two-dimensional plane. Optimum design points can be obtained from the geometric relations between the feasible region and an objective function