MINIMUM WEIGHT DESIGN OF COMPOSITE HYBRID SHELLS VIA SYMBOLIC COMPUTATION

The best layup for a hybrid laminated cylindrical shell subject to a b uckling load constraint is determined. The objective of the optimisati on is the minimum weight design of these structures. The ply angle is taken as the design variable. Various configurations of graphite and b oron epoxy layers are considered in order to determine an optimal stac king sequence. The symbolic computational software package MATHEMATICA is used in the implementation and solution of the problem. This appro ach simplifies the computational procedure as well as the implementati on of the analysis/optimisation routine. Results are given illustratin g the dependence of the optimal layup on the cylinder length and radiu s. It is shown that a general purpose computer algebra system like MAT HEMATICA is well suited to solve structural design problems involving composite materials. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd