Multiobjective blast-resistance optimization of gradient foam sandwiched cylindrical container

Abstract

The design and multiobjective optimization of graded foam-cored sandwich cylinders (GFSCs) composed of tubular face sheets and layered gradient foam core under internal air-blast loading were examined. The response surface method and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm were used in the defined optimization problem to determine the optimal face-sheet thickness and core gradient as well as achieve the minimum specific deflection of outer face sheet (SDF) and maximum specific energy absorption (SEA). Multiobjective optimization was subsequently conducted to obtain the Pareto front and improve the blast-resistant performance of the optimum GFSC configuration. Results obtained via these optimizations further indicated that the optimal GFSCs demonstrated better energy absorption characteristics than ordinary sandwich cylinders. Under the same SDF, SEA increased by 75.4% and 45.0% compared with that of the initial baseline design when the core gradient and face-sheet thickness were individually optimized, respectively. The joint optimization of face-sheet thicknesses and core gradient could significantly improve the blast-resistant performance by 171.1%. The optimization of GFSCs should primarily optimize the design variables with high-price performance ratio while reasonably arranging the design variable quantity, ensuring the controllable cost of calculation, and significantly improving the blast-resistant performance. The results also showed that the strength of CFSCs and the interaction between the face sheets and the core improved the blast-resistant capacity. The design optimization results could provide appropriate guidance in the crashworthiness design of GFSCs.