INTEGRATED OPTIMIZATION FOR WEIGHT, PERFORMANCE AND COST OF COMPOSITE STURUCTURES

Abstract A structure-process integrated optimization methodology is proposed considering both the structural properties and manufacturing process for the weight minimization of composite laminated plates manufactured by Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process. In the optimization problem, the structural weight of composite structures is minimized under the stiffness constraint and the mold filling time constraint which is a part of process cycle time. With the results obtained, it is investigated how the weight and material cost are traded-off. The optimization methodology suggests a guide of material selection in the preliminary conceptual design stage.

[1]  George S. Springer,et al.  Model for Determining the Vent Locations and the Fill Time of Resin Transfer Molds , 1995 .

[2]  Jens Hinrichsen,et al.  The challenge of reducing both airframe weight and manufacturing cost , 2001 .

[3]  C. Nardari,et al.  Simultaneous engineering in design and manufacture using the RTM process , 2002 .

[4]  Sujit Das,et al.  THE COST OF AUTOMOTIVE POLYMER COMPOSITES: A REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF DOE'S LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS COMPOSITES RESEARCH , 2001 .

[5]  Suresh G. Advani,et al.  Flow and rheology in polymer composites manufacturing , 1994 .

[6]  A. Harper,et al.  MIT OFFERS ECONOMIC ROUTE TO HIGH VOLUME RTM , 1998 .

[7]  Stephen W. Tsai,et al.  Design Optimization of Composite Plates: Part II—Structural Optimization by Plydrop Tapering , 1998 .

[8]  Akira Todoroki,et al.  Stacking sequence optimization by a genetic algorithm with a new recessive gene like repair strategy , 1998 .

[9]  R. Haftka,et al.  Optimization of laminate stacking sequence for buckling load maximization by genetic algorithm , 1993 .

[10]  S. Tsai,et al.  Introduction to composite materials , 1980 .

[11]  Alain Vautrin,et al.  Weight minimization of composite laminated plates with multiple constraints , 2003 .

[12]  Don Kelly,et al.  Multi-objective optimisation of composite aerospace structures , 2002 .

[13]  Akira Todoroki,et al.  Permutation genetic algorithm for stacking sequence design of composite laminates , 2000 .

[14]  Amanda Jacob,et al.  Automotive composites — the road ahead , 2001 .

[15]  George S. Springer,et al.  Design of Composite Laminates for Strength, Weight, and Manufacturability , 1997 .

[16]  P. Carman.  Fluid flow through granular beds , 1997 .

[17]  G. Marsh,et al.  PROCESS REFINEMENT KEY TO RTM SUCCESS , 1999 .

[18]  J. C. Halpin,et al.  Effects of Environmental Factors on Composite Materials. , 1969 .

[19]  Alain Vautrin,et al.  Multiconstraint Optimization of Composite Structures Manufactured by Resin Transfer Molding Process , 2005 .

[20]  Christos Kassapoglou,et al.  Simultaneous cost and weight minimization of composite-stiffened panels under compression and shear , 1997 .