Recent developments in exact strip analysis and optimum design of aerospace structures

Abstract

The current paper outlines recent developments to algorithms and software for critical buckling and natural vibration analysis and optimum design of prismatic plate assemblies, based on the exact strip approach and the Wittrick—Williams algorithm. The current paper acts as a single source document discussing recent progress and planned future explorations in: initial local postbuckling of stiffened panels; discrete optimization of composite structures to satisfy manufacturing requirements; discontinuous cost functions; constraints on fundamental natural frequencies and frequency-free bands; a feasibility study of response surface optimization; and multi-level optimization of composite aircraft wings. The numerous references provide fuller technical details and illustrative examples.