Optimum design of laminates containing an elliptical hole

• A 4, 8 and 16 layered symmetric plate containing an elliptical hole is optimized.
• The genetic algorithm, hybridized with pattern search method, is adopted.
• The stresses around an elliptical hole is studied for an optimum stacking sequence.

An optimum design of a 4, 8 and 16 layered graphite/epoxy and glass/epoxy symmetric laminated plate, containing an elliptical hole and subjected to various in-plane loading conditions is presented using Muskhelishvili׳s complex variable approach and hybrid genetic algorithm (GA). The Tsai–Hill criterion and quadratic interaction failure criterion are taken as an objective function for single plate lamina and symmetric laminate respectively. The ply orientation angles for different lamina are considered design variables. In the genetic algorithm (GA), tournament selection and heuristic crossover are used. The elitist model is also applied for the effective reproduction in the population.