Optimum design of weaving structure of 3-D woven fabric composites by using genetic algorithms

Abstract

This paper discusses the optimum design method of the weaving structure of three-dimensional (3-D) reinforced composites. We propose the design method which combines the genetic algorithms (GA) and the finite element analysis. GA is one of the optimization techniques for the combinatorial optimization problem. In the finite element analysis, we used the original structure model which can express the fiber arrangement state in the 3-D composites faithfully. In this study, the original weaving structure model is constructed by combining the basic structure which has the fiber bundle and the cubic grid of resin. From analysis results, in the small design region, we can obtain the optimum weaving structure. Moreover, we proposed a new genetic operation, to design the weaving structure at the larger design region. These operations aim to prevent the failure of the partial weaving structure in the analytical model as much as possible. From the analysis results, the optimum weaving structure is obtained at the large design region, similar to above results. Consequently, it seems that the proposed method enables the design of the optimum weaving structure in the 3-D composites.