Probabilistic optimal design of laminates using improved particle swarm optimization

A new approach to the particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed for the solution of non-linear optimization problems with constraints, and is applied to the reliability-based optimum design of laminated composites. Special mutation-interference operators are introduced to increase swarm variety and improve the convergence performance of the algorithm. The reliability-based optimum design of laminated composites is modelled and solved using the improved PSO. The maximization of structural reliability and the minimization of total weight of laminates are analysed. The stacking sequence optimization is implemented in the improved PSO by using a special coding technique. Examples show that the improved PSO has high convergence and good stability and is efficient in dealing with the probabilistic optimal design of composite structures.