Refined models for the optimal design of adaptive structures using simulated annealing

This paper deals with refined finite element models based on higher-order d isplacement fields applied to the mechanical and electrical behavior of lam inated composite plate structures with embedded and/or surface bonded piezo electric actuators and sensors. Simulated annealing, a stochastic global op timization technique is implemented to find the optimal location of piezoel ectric actuators in order to maximize its efficiency. The same technique is also used to solve optimization problems of piezolaminated plate structure s where the discrete design variables are the ply orientation angles of ort hotropic layers. The implemented scheme helps to recover from the premature convergence to a local optimum, without the need of reinitiating the optim al design process, as it is the case of the gradient-based methods with con tinuous design variables. To show the performance of the proposed optimizat ion methods, two illustrative and simple examples are presented and discuss ed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.