Mechanical properties updating of a non-uniform natural fibre composite panel by means of a parallel genetic algorithm

This article presents an investigation on the mechanical properties of a composite panel made of unidirectional flax fibres embedded in a polyethylene matrix (flax-PE). An initial set of mechanical properties was identified by classical static tests. Then, an experimental modal analysis was performed in order to get information on natural frequencies and mode shapes, which are related to the mechanical properties. The experimental modal results were compared with numerical ones, obtained through finite element model using the initial set of mechanical properties. Finally, in order to get a good numerical-experimental correlation, the mechanical properties throughout the panel were updated using an inverse modelling method based on parallel genetic algorithms.