Design optimization of composite cylinders for submersible pressure hulls

This study aims to optimize the design of composite cylinders for submersible pressure hulls, taking the critical buckling pressure and failure load into consideration using sub-problem approximation method in ANSYS program. The finite element analysis was verified by comparing with the test results. The ply orientation angle and the number of layers for the ith ply were optimized for the composite cylinder. The effect of design variables on the optimal design was studied by sensitivity analysis. The critical buckling pressure and the load factor were analyzed and evaluated for the design variables. The optimization results showed that instead of failure load, the critical buckling pressure determined the maximum design pressure. The current results suggested that the critical buckling pressure should be taken into account along with failure load for the optimal design of composite cylinders. KEYWORD: Composite cylinders; Optimization; Buckling; Failure 4th International Conference on Mechanical Materials and Manufacturing Engineering (MMME 2016) © 2016. The authors Published by Atlantis Press 607 fied on the finite element were the same as those of underwater vehicles’ loading condition. Fig.1 Finite element model [±3010/904] [±4510/904] [±6010/904]