Thermal buckling load optimization of laminated folded composite plates

Abstract In this study, thermal buckling load optimization of symmetrically laminated composite folded plates subjected to uniformly distributed temperature load is investigated. The objective function is to maximize the critical temperature capacity of laminates and the fiber orientation is considered as a design variable. The first-order shear deformation theory is used to study thermal buckling response of the laminates. The modified feasible direction method is used as the optimization routine. For this purpose, a program based on Fortran is used for the optimization. Finally, the significant effects of crank angles, plate lengths and boundary conditions on the optimum results are demonstrated and the results are compared.