Use of optimum stiffness tailoring to improve the compressive strength of composite plates with holes
A structural optimization procedure is used to tailor the cross-sectional stiffness distribution of compression-loaded composite plates with holes. Minimum mass designs are obtained for plates with cross sections consisting of two different balanced symmetric laminates with 0 deg, + or - 45 deg and 90 deg plies. The plate interior region contains the hole and is designed from a softer material system with a higher failure strain than the plate exterior region. All-graphite-epoxy plates and hybrid graphite/glass-epoxy plates were studied. Other designs with different percentages of 0 deg and + or 45 deg plies in the exterior laminate are compared with the optimum designs. Designs with uniform cross-sectional stiffnesses also are compared with the tailored cross-sectional stiffness designs. Specimens of each design were tested to verify the analytical predictions. The results show that cross-sectional stiffness tailoring can increase the compressive strength and decrease the mass of compression-loaded laminated plates with holes.