Thickness optimisation of isotropic and composite beams

and shells with large displacements

 

S.Abid^*; F. Dammak^*; M. Haddar^*& J.L Batoz^**

^*  Unit of Mechanics, Modelling and Manufacturing, Tunisia

^**University of Technology, Compiegne, France

Département de Technologie, Institut Préparatoire aux Etudes

d’Ingénieurs de Sfax, Route de Menzel Chaker Km 0,5 BP 805

3018 Sfax Tunisia.

E-mail said.abid@issatgb.rnu.tn

 

Abstract

This work deals with optimum design of isotropic or composite beams and shell structures with geometrical non-linearities (large displacements and rotations analysis). Suspension parts such as leaf springs are practical applications in the car industry. The thickness distribution is designed to minimize the stresses with a prescribed stiffness for a given load level. An Updated Corotational Lagrangian Formulation is considered for the non-linear analysis with large displacements and rotations but small elastic strains. A mathematical programming technique is coupled with the non-linear analysis code to design 2D and 3D leaf springs.