Optimization of the damping of the rectangular 3-D braided composite based on PSO algorithm

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3-D) braided composite, a new type composite, has the better performance designable characteristic. This paper describes the damping analysis of the hollow-rectangular-section three-dimensional braided composite made by 2-step method with a consideration of the wide application of hollow-rectangular-section three-dimensional braided composite in engineering. Then, it proposes the mathematical models for optimization of the damping of the three-dimensional braided composite. The objective functions are based on the specific damping capacity of the composite, and the design variables are the braiding parameters and sectional geometrical size of the composite. The results of numeral examples show that the better damping characteristic could be obtained by using optimal design with particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, contenting the determinate restriction. The method proposed here is useful for the design and engineering application of the kind of member. © Springer-Verlag 2009.