Structural optimization of laminated conical shells

A methodology for determining an optimal design of a laminated structure is described in terms of its application to the design of an upper-stage solid rocket exit cone. Structural design is complicated by the conical geometry of the exit cone and the associated available fiber wrapping techniques. The methodology described is comprised of three independent components: 1) the field theory, 2) a statistical sampling scheme for constructing surrogate structural response functions, and 3) a dynamic programming model for accomplishing the optimization. Use of the first and implementation of the second and third of these components is described. A design solution that provides a 37 Ib weight savings over the base line aluminum design is identified.