Topology optimization for stiffened panels considering postbuckling

Chu, S., Featherston, C. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7548-2882, Kennedy, D. and Kim, H. A. 2025. Topology optimization for stiffened panels considering postbuckling. Zingoni, Alphose, ed. Engineering Materials, Structures, Systems and Methods for a More Sustainable Future, CRC Press, pp. 1124-1129. (10.1201/9781003677895-189)

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Abstract

Size and shape optimization has long been studied to maximize the critical buckling load whilst reducing the mass of stiffened panels used extensively in the structures and aerospace sectors. Moving into the postbuckling regime, where this is stable, provides the opportunity to further reduce weight and material usage, increasingly important in decarbonisation and the achievement of net zero. With the opportunities further extended by the use of topology optimisation and novel manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing we are no longer limited to prismatic stiffened panel structures, further expanding the design space for lightweight structures. This study introduces topology optimization for the postbuckling of stiffened panels. A level-set based topology optimization parameterization, which has been successfully applied to linear buckling optimization, is extended to postbuckling optimization. The thicknesses of both the skin and stiffeners, as well as the stiffener layout and internal topologies are simultaneously optimized. Stiffened panels under force loading are considered for optimization. The Newton-Raphson scheme with load control is used for postbuckling analysis, where a small imperfection in the form of the first linear buckling mode is imposed on the finite element model. Two possibilities are explored – maximizing load-carrying capacity and minimizing out-of-plane skin deformation. Two optimization formulations, respectively considering these two postbuckling metrics are studied. Sensitivity information is shown, and a gradient-based optimizer is used to solve the optimization problems. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the application of the proposed method to postbuckling optimization of stiffened panels and highlight differences from linear buckling optimization.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > English, Communication and Philosophy
Publisher:	CRC Press
ISBN:	978-1032780702
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2025 15:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/182991

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