Optimal design of thick laminated composite plates for maximum thermal buckling load

In this article, the design of a thick laminated composite plate subjected to a thermal buckling load under a uniform temperature distribution is pres ented. In design procedures of compose laminated plates for a maximum therm al buckling load the finite element method based on shear deformation theor y is used for the analysis of laminated plates. The optimal design for the symmetric or antisymmetric laminated plates consisting of four layers with a maximum thermal buckling load is performed. The fiber orientation and ply thickness coefficient of plates are adopted as design variables. A one-dim ensional search method is used to find optimal fiber orientation, and optim al thickness is investigated.