The objective of this thesis is to develop the optimal design of composite links containing complicated cross-section. To accomplish this objective, a composite links structural analysis program was developed. The method of calculating effective modulus of composite beam containing complicated cross-section is proposed. For the verification of the program, the deformed shapes of link structure were compared with those from finite element analysis.
Genetic algorithm was implemented for the optimization method to manipulate the discrete ply angles as the design variables and to utilize its high reliability to find the global optimum. The design variables were the number of plies, the fiber orientations and the stacking sequence. The optimal design of composite links was performed by genetic algorithm to minimize the weight of the structure and to constrain ply failure.
