An analytical investigation of the best stacking sequence of a symmetric laminated composite plate weakened by a hole

The investigation of the best set of fiber arrangements of a composite laminated structure under various loading conditions is very challenging and the analytical derivation is also complex when the laminate contains various shaped discontinuities. In this article, the best stacking sequence is investigated by treating it as an inverse problem, in which the best fiber arrangement is predicted considering maximization of the failure strength as an objective function. This inverse problem is solved using the hybrid genetic algorithm that operates the Tsai–Hill quadratic criterion as a fitness function and stacking sequence as design variables. A 4, 8 and 16-layered symmetrical laminated composite plate containing a triangular and square hole is optimized by considering the in-plane loading conditions, and the stresses in the Tsai–Hill quadratic criterion are calculated by an analytical solution of Muskhelishvili’s complex variable approach. The problem of the calculation of stresses and failure strengths from the estimated fiber arrangement data is presented as a forward problem. The effect of hole geometry and loading angle on an optimum design is also presented. The presented approach will be useful as an effective tool to study composites