PLY LAYUP OPTIMIZATION AND MICROMECHANICS TAILORING OF COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STRUCTURES

A ply layup optimization and micromechanics tailoring capability for c omposites aircraft engine components is under development. The composi tes optimization methodology is multidisciplinary, encompassing struct ural, heat transfer, and aeromechanical design considerations. The met hodology includes provision for handling multiple objective functions and a framework for approximation of both the response functions and i ts derivatives. Derivative approximations are found to be sufficiently accurate to guide the numerical search in the right direction. A micr omechanics tailoring procedure to correlate the ''calculated'' and ''m easured'' lamina properties at elevated temperatures is outlined. The micromechanics tailoring also provides the ability to back out effecti ve (in situ) matrix properties as part of the composite. Several real life aircraft engine components are optimized for structural, thermal, and aeromechanical responses as design objectives and constraints.