Optimum design of composite laminates using genetic algorithms

The use of genetic algorithms (GAs) for the design of composite laminates is presented. Unlike the traditional hill-climbing techniques, GAs are global search procedures based on the mechanics of natural selection with the result that they are robust over a wide range of environments, particularly the multimodal search spaces encountered in composite design. The GA requires coding of the design variables as a finite-length string over a finite alphabet. Here, the design variables are the lamina orientations and stacking sequence required for maximum laminate strength and/or stiffness with minimum weight. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate that the genetic algorithm can be a viable alternative to traditional search procedures in the design of composite laminates. Finally, based on the results of this study several suggestions are mentioned for improvement in the performance of the genetic algorithm.