Efficient design of large lightweight composite structures: A parameter free optimization approach

This contribution presents a computational framework and the algorithmic techniques for simulation and gradient-based optimization of geometrically nonlinear and large-scale finite element models of composite structures. Focus is put on efficient adjoint sensitivity analysis to deal with very large design spaces. Parallelization is applied to all computation phases: simulation, sensitivity analysis, as well as optimization. The modular framework also allows for mixing the design variable types in one optimization step. This enables combined shape and sizing optimization. Several application examples illustrate the methods, show the applicability to large problems, and prove the high parallel efficiency.