OPTIMAL LAMINATE CONFIGURATIONS WITH SYMMETRICAL LAY-UPS FOR MAXIMUM POSTBUCKLING STIFFNESS

Optimal designs of symmetrically laminated angle-ply plates are obtain ed with the objective of maximizing the initial postbuckling stiffness . The design involves optimization over the ply angles and the stackin g sequence to obtain the best laminate configuration. The stacking seq uence is chosen from amongst five candidate designs. It is shown that the best configuration depends on the ratio of the in-plane loads in t he x and y directions. Results are also given for two additional confi gurations which do not exhibit bending-twisting coupling.