Optimization of fiber-steered composites by using the iso-contour method with maximum curvature constraint

The paper presents a novel method for the optimization of fiber-steered composite shell structures, considering manufacturability constraints, expressed in terms of maximum allowed curvature - maximum fiber curvature constraint (MFCC). Unlike the average fiber curvature constraint (AFCC) [1], the method is able to capture local effects, guaranteeing the manufacturability of the optimal design. In this research, the previously introduced iso-contour method [2], where the fiber paths are represented as iso-contour lines of an artificial surface, defined over the 2D geometry domain, is extended by a technique to compute the maximum fiber curvature. The method is successfully tested with exemplary problems, including the optimization of the clamped plate stiffness and design of the fuselage panel for maximum buckling force. Results show, that the introduced method can precisely control the maximum curvature constraint during the fiber-steered composite optimization, and obtained designs provide significant improvement over simple laminates.