Multi-objective optimal design of stiffened laminated composite cylindrical shell with piezoelectric actuators

The stiffeners and piezoelectric actuators are used in many aerospace structures as an auxiliary layer with laminated composites. A question then arises as to whether we can estimate the percentage of these materials in an efficient design. Due to the high computational cost, it is not easy to answer through numerical solutions. The objective of this paper is concurrently to maximize the buckling load and minimize the weight of the cylindrical shell. To reach this aim, a multi-objective optimization problem is developed based on the closed-form solutions of thermal/mechanical buckling and weight of the piezolaminated shell with eccentric/concentric stiffener. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) is used for solving multi-criteria optimization. Shannon’s entropy-based TOPSIS decision-making algorithm is employed to select the best design from Pareto fronts. To illustrate the potential of lightweight optimal design in structural stability, the obtained optimal and conventional designs are compared.