This book will expand your design horizons with a thorough, integrated knowledge of laminate mechanics and design optimization techniques. It features a rational, integrated presentation, supplemented with case studies, practice exercises, and valuable programming tips.

Design and Optimization of Laminated Composite Materials presents selected optimization methods that are suited to the design of laminates with discrete thickness and orientation angles; offers guidelines on getting the most out of numerical and graphical software applications for laminate optimization problems; delineates failure criteria for laminated composites; and more. Access to a companion web site containing Mathematica-based programs and helpful tutorials is also provided.

From the Preface: “...This book has been developed for senior-level undergraduate or early graduate courses in numerical design methods for laminated composite materials...[T]he book may be used in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, engineering science and mechanics, and mechanical engineering curricula. In addition, the book has technical material useful for practicing engineers in related fields. Researchers in composite materials are likely to benefit from the state of the art methods introduced in the book...”

Target Audience: Composites, aerospace, mechanical and design engineers; materials scientists; and students interested in laminated composite structures.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Mechanics of Laminated Composite Materials

Hygrothermal Analysis of Laminated Composites

Laminate In-Plane Stiffness Design

Integer Programming

Failure Criteria for Laminated Composites

Strength Design of Laminates

Laminate Design for Flexural and Combined Response

Index