Minimizing damage in postbuckling stiffened composite panels: An optimization strategy using high performance computing

A finite-element based optimisation procedure is presented which delays the onset of failure, by skin-stiffener debonding, in a postbuckling stiffened composite panel. A global-local modelling approach, validated using existing experimental results, was linked to a genetic algorithm to optimise the stacking sequence of the panel to increase its damage resistance subject to critical buckling load and prebuckling stiffness constraints. The optimised configuration was one which delayed the onset a secondary instability. This is consistent with earlier studies which showed that mode-jumping was a damage-inducing phenomenon.