Structural buckling optimization of stiffened plates

In this thesis, structural buckling optimization of stiffened plates was studied. Two types of stiffeners were used. First, straight stiffeners and second T shaped stiffeners. Examined plate types have common length, width and volume constraints. In each stiffener type, some combinations of pad elements, substiffener elements and variable plate skin were used. Buckling analyses of plates were carried out using a Fortran computer code which is based on Finite Strip (FS) method and developed by Özakça[1]. Optimization of plates was carried out with same program, which uses Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) as optimization tool. By these applications the effectiveness of 16 plate types using straight and T shaped stiffener types were investigated. Totally 315 runs were carried out for this purpose. The buckling optimization results are fluctuating in a wide range due to used elements combinations listed above and number of stiffeners. Improvements due to used element type and number of stiffeners are listed and compared according to stiffener types.Key Words: Stiffened plates, Buckling analysis, Structural optimization, Finite strip