Design of thick laminated composite plates for maximum damping

Abstract

The optimal lamination arrangement of thick laminated composite plates for maximum damping is studied via a multi-start global optimization technique. In the optimization process, the damping analysis of a laminated composite plate is accomplished by utilizing a shear-deformable laminated composite finite element, in which the exact expressions for determining shear correction factors are adopted, with the damping model of Adams and associates. The optimal layup of the plate with maximum damping is then designed by maximizing the specific damping capacity of the plate via the multi-start global optimization technique. The effects of length-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio, Young's modulus ratio, and number of ply groups upon the optimum ply group orientations and the value of damping are investigated by means of a number of examples of the design of symmetrically laminated composite plates.