This paper presents validated results of the optimization of cutouts i
n laminated carbon-fibre composite panels by adapting a recently devel
oped optimization procedure known as Evolutionary Structural Optimizat
ion (ESO). An initial small cutout was introduced into each finite ele
ment model and elements were removed from around this cutout based on
a predefined rejection criterion. In the examples presented, the limit
ing ply within each plate element around the cutout was determined bas
ed on the Tsai-Hill failure index. Plates with values below the produc
t of the average Tsai-Hill number and a rejection ratio (RR) were subs
equently removed. This process was iterated until a steady state was r
eached and the RR was then incremented by an evolutionary rate (ER). T
he above steps were repeated until a cutout of a desired area was achi
eved.