Buckling Optimization of Composite Axisymmetric Cylindrical Shells Under Uncertain Loading Combinations

Optimal elastic buckling loads of composite axisymmetric circular cylinders under uncertain loading conditions are investigated. The mechanical loads applied to the cylinder are a combination of axial compression, lateral pressure, and torsion. Additionally, these loads are allowed to vary within a certain class of admissible loads during the optimization search, as opposed to the restriction of fixed loads in the traditional optimization. The consideration of a degree of uncertainty in the mechanical loads leads to optimal designs which are inherently insensitive to perturbations and/or randomness in the applied loads.