Optimization of Laminates for Maximum

Buckling Load

Abdelillah Feghoul, Abdelkader

Lousdad, Abdelkader Megueni &
Azzeddine Belaziz

Journal of Failure Analysis and

Prevention

ISSN 1547-7029
Volume 19
Number 1

J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2019)

19:177-181
DOI 10.1007/s11668-019-00588-z

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 Author's personal copy
J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2019) 19:177–181
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-019-00588-z
TECHNICAL ARTICLE—PEER-REVIEWED
Optimization of Laminates for Maximum Buckling Load
Abdelillah Feghoul . Abdelkader Lousdad . Abdelkader Megueni .
Azzeddine Belaziz
Submitted: 2 April 2018 / Published online: 23 January 2019
 ASM International 2019
Abstract Objective of this work is to optimize the
structural configuration of laminates in terms of design for
the maximization of buckling resistance of laminates under
the effect of constraints. The predominant design parameter
is the orientation of the fibers in the layers of the laminate.
High-order deformation theory is used in the mathematical
formulation in the buckling analysis of stratified composite
plates. For this purpose, we will use the optimization
technique genetic algorithm taking into account the various
factors: number of fibers, geometric ratio, load ratio and
boundary conditions.
Keywords Optimization  Laminate 
Fiber orientation buckling  Loading 
Genetic algorithm (GA)
A. Feghoul  A. Lousdad  A. Megueni
Laboratory of Mechanics of Structures and Solids (LMSS),
Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Technology,
University of Sidi Bel Abbes, Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria
A. Feghoul
e-mail: feghoul059@gmail.com
A. Lousdad
e-mail: a_lousdad@yahoo.com
A. Megueni
e-mail: a_megueni@yahoo.fr
A. Belaziz (&)
Laboratory of Materials and Reactive Systems (LMSR),
Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Technology,
University of Sidi Bel Abbes, Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria
e-mail: belaziz2013@gmail.com
Introduction
Composites have a high specific strength and stiffness and
are therefore widely used for applications such as aircraft
structures and wind turbines where weight reduction is
essential. The structural performance of laminated com-
posites can be further improved without adding weight by
simply optimizing the material system itself, such as fiber
orientation and stacking sequence [1].
Many researchers have attempted to make a better
composite laminate by maximizing the static strength of
composite laminates for a given thickness [2–4], and most
researchers have used only conventional web angles (quasi-
isotropic laminates with angles of orientation 0–45 and
90). Although this is an advantage from the point of view
of laminate manufacture, it has been proved that adaptation
of the stacking sequence without limiting orientations to
those that are conventional can improve the response of the
laminate [5].
The ability to adapt rigidity and strength to meet a
certain application requirement is directly known for
optimizing the stacking sequence.
Among the problem-solving methods in which the
objective function may be discontinuous, genetic algo-
rithms (GAs) are the most commonly used technique for
the optimization of laminated composites [6, 7].
Problem Formulation
A composite rectangular plate subjected to a biaxial com-
pression load as shown in Fig. 1 is considered for this
work. The boundary condition is applied simply resting on
all four sides of the blade. Symmetrical stacking sequences
are assumed in order to eliminate the coupling effect. The
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178 J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2019) 19:177–181

where A(i, j), B(i, j) and D(i, j) are the components of the
extensional stiffness matrix, coupling rigidity matrix and
stiffness matrix bending, respectively. They can be calcu-
lated using Eq 4.

X
m
Aij ¼  ij ðhk  hk1 Þ
Q
k¼1
1Xm  
Bij ¼ ij h2  h2
Q ðEq 4Þ
k k1
2 k¼1

Fig. 1 Geometry of the plate

1X m 
ij h3  h3 :

Dij ¼ Q k k1
3 k¼1
number of folds and thickness is kept constant, and the
Orthotropic Stratified Plate
stacking sequence is optimally varied to maximize buck-
ling strength.
For the simply supported orthotropic laminate plate, sub-
jected to uniform compression on each side, of the
The Classical Theory of Lamines
resultants Nx and Ny, no lateral load is exerted [2]
The classical theory of laminates is applied to evaluate the p2 ðm4 D11 þ 2m2 R2 ðD12 þ 2D66 Þ þ R4 D22 Þ
Ncr ¼ ðEq 5Þ
mechanical behavior of the composite plate. The stress– a2 ðm2 þ / n2 R2 Þ
strain relationship of each fold [8] is given in Eq 1.
8 9 2 38 9 Ncr is the critical buckling load for the values of m and n;
< rxx = 11 Q
Q 12 Q 16 < exx = R = a/b is the length-to-width ratio of the plate; m is the
ryy ¼ 4 Q 12 Q 22 Q 26 5 eyy ðEq 1Þ number of sine half-waves in the direction parallel to the
: ;   66 : exy ;
rxy Q16 Q26 Q k load; n is the number of sine half-waves in the direction
where Qij are the elements of off-axis stiffness determined perpendicular to the load; b is the dimension of the per-
on the basis of the orientations of the web. The resulting pendicular plate or loading; and a is the rating of the
forces and moments are obtained by integrating the thick- parallel plate or loading.
ness of the stresses into each web, and it is given in Eq 2.
8 9 8 9
< Nxx >
> = < rxx >
Zh=2 > = Optimization Procedure
Nyy ¼ ryy dz
>
: >
; >
: >
;
Nxy k h=2 rxy Simple Genetic Algorithm
8 9 8 9 ðEq 2Þ
< Mxx >
> = Zh=2 >< rxx >
= A simple genetic algorithm is applied to optimize the
Myy ¼ ryy z dz stacking sequence for maximizing buckling resistance. It
>
: >
; >
: >
;
Mxy k h=2 rxy works with operators like selection, traverses and mutation
8 9 0 18 9 to evolve a solution. The breeding or selection operator is
< Nxx >
> = A11 A12 A16 < exx >
> = the first operator applied to the population. The healthier
BA C
Nyy ¼ @ 12 A22 A26 A eyy
chromosomes of the current population are chosen to be
>
: >
; : >
> ;
Nxy k A16 A26 A66 exy crossover parents and produce the offspring. On many
0 18 k9
B11 B12 B16 > < kxx >= existing breeding operators, selecting the roulette wheel,
B C one of the most widely used choice operators is used in this
þ @ B12 B22 B26 A kyy
: >
> ; work. Crossover is a genetic operator that combines two
B16 B26 B66 kxy
8 9 0 18 9 k ðEq 3Þ parent chromosomes to produce new chromosomes (off-
< Mxx >
> = B11 B12 B16 < exx >
> = spring). In general, new chromosomes can be better than
B B22 B26 C
Myy ¼ @ B12 A eyy both parents because it takes the best features of their
>
: >
; : >
> ;
Mxy k B16 B26 B66 exy k parents. Crossover is held on the basis of a user-defined
0 18 9 probability [8].
D11 D12 D16 > < kxx >=
B C
þ @ D12 D22 D26 A kyy
: >
> ;
D16 D26 D66 kxy k

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Initialize the Population

Table 1 The critical buckling loads and the optimal fold orientation
angle for a uniaxial compression

Evaluate the Solution and Rank them Model used Number of folds R Ncri (N/m) m n h ()

Equation 6 2 1 48.5467 1 1 45
Initiation of population
3 48.5473
4 48.5470
5 48.5428
Yes
2 2 269.0704 65
Check the Stop
convergence 3 269.0576
4 269.0624
5 268.9758
No
2 3 1268.102 90
Apply multi segment 3 1268.082
4 1268.080
5 1267.640
Appliquer la mutation
2 4 3968.656
3 3968.634
Fig. 2 Diagram of a simple genetic algorithm 4 3968.647
5 3968.126

Results and Discussion

Either a composite epoxy–carbon laminate plate

The critical load of uni-axial buckling N / m

4000
(E1 = 148 GPa, E2 = 10.5 GPa, G12 = 5.61 GPa and
m12 = 0.3) in single supports on all four sides, with a width
R=1
of 1 m and a thickness of 0.5 mm. Calculate and draw the 3000 R=2
graph of the critical result stress based on the length of the R=3
R=4
plate knowing that it is subject to (Fig. 2).
n=1m=

2000
Uniaxial Compression

In the case of a uniaxial compression along x, we have 1000

a = 0 and Eq 5 becomes [9].

p2  4  0
Ncr ¼ m D11 þ 2m2 R2 ðD12 þ 2D66 Þ þ R4 D22
m2 a2 2 3 4 5
number of folds
ðEq 6Þ
Fig. 3 Variation of the axial critical buckling load optimize
The results obtained for the critical buckling loads and
according to the number of folds
the optimal fold orientation angle for a uniaxial
compression by setting n = 1 and m = 1 vary for the
Biaxial Compression
value of R from 1 to 4. The results obtained are
summarized in Table 1.
The results of the critical buckling load and the orientation
The optimum critical buckling load for a uniaxial
angle of the biaxial compression folds for n = 1; m = 1;
compression of a laminate (Fig. 3) is obtained for the same
a = 1 vary for the value of R. The results obtained are
orientation angle value for all the folds, and this load does
summarized in Table 2.
not vary despite the variation in the number of folds, for
The critical buckling load for a biaxial compression does
n = 1 and m = 1.
not vary despite the variation in the number of folds
For n = 1 and m = 1 (Fig. 4), the critical buckling load
(Fig. 5), and the angles of orientation of the folds take the
to optimize for a uniaxial compression for a given R does
same value for n = 1, m = 1 and a = 1 and for given R.
not vary, despite the variation of number of folds that take
For n = 1 and m = 1, the critical buckling load for a
the same direction for all the folds.
biaxial compression for a given R does not vary despite the

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180 J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2019) 19:177–181

The critical load of uni-axial buckling N / m

5000 240

Critical load of bi-axial buckling N / m

R=0,5
4000 R=1
R=2

n = 1; m = 1; a = 1
R=3
3000 160
R=4
m=1n=1

2000

1000 80

-1000 0
1 2 3 4 2 3 4 5
Number of folds
R:length-to-width ratio
Fig. 5 Variation of the critical load of biaxial buckling according to
Fig. 4 Variation of the axial buckling critical load as a function of R number of folds

300
Table 2 The critical buckling loads and the optimal fold orientation
angle for a uniaxial compression

critical bi-axial buckling load N / m

Model used Number of folds R Ncri (N/m) m n h () a
200
Equation 5 2 0.5 13.4535 1 1 25 1 n = 1; m = 1; a = 1
3 13.4533
4 13.4517
100
5 13.4496
2 1 24.2738 0
3 24.2737
0
4 24.2734
5 24.2633
2 2 53.8140 65 0 1 2 3 4 5

3 53.8133
R: length-to-width ratio
4 53.8128
5 53.7993 Fig. 6 Variation of the critical load of biaxial buckling as a function
2 3 126.809 90 of R
3 126.808
4 126.807 Table 3 The critical buckling loads and the optimal fold orientation
5 126.669 angle for a uniaxial compression by setting n = 1, m = 1, R = 1 for
a = 2 and 3
2 4 233.450
3 233.442 Model used Number of folds R Ncri (N/m) m n h () a
4 233.446 Equation 5 2 1 16.1825 1 1 45 2
5 233.367 3 16.1825
4 16.1821
5 16.1751
2 12.1369 3
variation in the number of folds that take the same direc-
3 12.1368
tion for all the folds (Fig. 6).
4 12.1821
For n = 1 and m = 1, the critical load of biaxial buckling
5 12.1299
becomes more intense for increasing values of R and the
angles of orientation of the folds take the same value.
The results obtained for critical buckling loads and
optimal pleat orientation angles for biaxial compression by For n = 1, m = 1 and R = 1, we have concluded that the
setting n = 1, m = 1, R = 1 vary for a = 2 and 3. The critical buckling load for a biaxial compression becomes
results obtained are summarized in Table 3. smaller if the load ratio increases (Fig. 7).

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Critical load of bi-axial buckling N / m
24
n = 1; m = 1; R = 1
18
12
1 2
The load ratio = ( N x /N y)
Fig. 7 Variation of the biaxial buckling critical load as a function of
compression load ratio a ¼ NNxy
Conclusions
The buckling optimization of the laminated composite was
performed by varying the angles to find the optimal designs
that are resistant to buckling with the GA method.
• For a given value of a: n, m, R and a, the critical
buckling force remains constant even with the number
of folds that take the same orientation for all the
fibers.
• For a value of n, m and a, the critical buckling load
becomes more intense by increasing the value of R.
181
• For a value of n, m and R, the critical buckling load
becomes smaller by increasing the value of a. The fold
direction angle depends on n, m, R, a.
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