EBF3PanelOpt: A Computational Design Environment for Panels Fabricated by Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

We have developed an optimization framework, EBF3PanelOpt to design stiffened panels with curvilinear stiffeners. The curvilinear stiffening tries to utilize the larger design space created by such additive manufacturing techniques like Electron Beam Free Form Fabrication, Friction Stir Welding, and Selective Laser Sintering. Structural loads of future aerospace vehicles may not be well characterized using our knowledge-based databases, so medium-fidelity modeling capabilities of software, Msc.Patran (geometry and meshing), and Msc.Nastran (finite element analysis) are integrated in EBF3PanelOpt. The EBF3PanelOpt minimizes the mass of the stiffened panel with the constraints on buckling, von Mises stress and crippling of the stiffeners. The panel/stiffener geometry is parameterized using design variables that include variables for orientation and shape of the stiffeners, the thicknesses and height of the stiffeners, and the plate thickness. The plate can have uniform thickness or non-uniform thicknesses for the pockets created by the stiffeners. The EBF3PanelOpt is enhanced to have curvilinear T stiffeners with or without axial loads in addition to loads through plate Both the vibro-acoustic and structural optimization are supported using multi-objective optimization in EBF3PanelOpt. To enhance the computational efficiency, an improved surrogate model built using artificial neural network and kriging is utilized. To quantify the uncertainty in the design variables or parameters, reliability analysis is supported in EBF3PanelOpt.

Optimization of lightweight sub-stiffened panels with buckling analysis and imperfection sensitivity analysis

“…Scholars began to optimize the shape and layout of stiffeners to obtain better mechanical properties of stiffened plates. Rakesh et al 11 developed an optimization framework to design stiffened panels with curvilinear stiffeners, EBF3PanelOpt. Wesley et al 12 and Mulani et al 13 made optimizations with curvilinear stiffeners and T-stiffeners using the software of EBF3PanelOpt.…”

Buckling and Postbuckling Experiments of Integrally Stiffened Panel Under Compression–Shear Loads

“…With the developments of the fabrication technology, the design of the ISP stringers is much more flexible compared to the conventional buildup stiffened panel. Hence, a lot of literatures [6][7][8][9] focused on the development of the design tool and optimization approach of the ISP, which are based on parametric finite element model for the buckling and postbuckling analyses. EBF3PanelOpt is one of the analysis and design tools developed for the optimization of a stiffened panel [6,7].…”

“…Hence, a lot of literatures [6][7][8][9] focused on the development of the design tool and optimization approach of the ISP, which are based on parametric finite element model for the buckling and postbuckling analyses. EBF3PanelOpt is one of the analysis and design tools developed for the optimization of a stiffened panel [6,7]. Dedicated finite element models were also developed for the buckling and postbuckling analyses of different ISPs under compression load [10][11][12] or combined axial compression and internal pressure loads [13].…”