| Hygrothermal curvature-stable coupling (HTCC) composite structures are typically constructed of a series of distinct stacking sequence of laminates, each with relatively given fiber orientations, and preserve the effective characteristic of providing mechanical coupling without inducing curvature deformation resulted from hygrothermal loads. The optimization of such composite structures entails the determination of the stacking sequence of distinct laminates, each with relatively given fiber orientations, and their relative through-the-thickness locations while satisfying performance requirements with certain imposed design constraints. Genetic algorithms, inspired by the Darwin's theory of survival-of-the-fittest strategy, are robust and efficient to handle varieties of optimization problems, and to obtain multiple optimal solutions. In the present study, both the maximization of coupling terms of HTCC laminates and the dual problem of minimization of laminate thickness with imposed mechanical loads and constraints, had been accomplished through the use of genetic algorithms, implemented with Matlab, for the exploration of varieties of stacking sequence of HTCC laminates in their design space. |
