Layerwise adaptive topology optimization of laminate structures

Presents a simple heuristic optimization algorithm to determine weight-mini mal laminate structures. The algorithm is based on an inverted form of grow th strategy, where material is removed in areas with low stresses. In the p resented algorithm the removal of material is performed in a layerwise mann er in areas with low stress or in areas where the layer orientation angle d iffers significantly from the principal stress direction. In order to get a production-adapted structure, the layer orientation angles of the availabl e individual plies are not modified and the material is removed only locall y in the respective plies Contrary to a more formal mathematical optimizati on no sensitivity analyses are needed by the procedure outlined so far and this keeps the corresponding numerical effort reasonably low. The structura l analyses have been performed by the Finite Element Program ANSYS and the outlined heuristic algorithm has been implemented by ANSYS-MACROS. Several examples of rectangular laminate plates show the effectiveness of the prese nt algorithm.