Buckling Performance Optimization of Steered Composite Panels while Accounting for Manufacturing Constraints

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technology has revolutionized manufacturing of composite structures and is quickly replacing traditional hand-layup manufacturing. Among others, the notable advantage of AFP is that the designer is no more restricted to the use of straight ber paths, enabling optimizing for desired structural performance. The scope of this work is to identify the manufacturing parameters and associated constraints imposed by these parameters on the manufacturability of steered ber structural panels, referred to as the manufacturing signature (MS), using currently available AFP machines. This is demonstrated by an optimization problem to maximize the buckling load of a panel with steered bers. Further, deviations of as- manufactured panels from the ideal pristine designs of these optimal solutions are discussed and an investigation on their e ects on performance of the manufactured panel is presented.