Continuous fiber paths optimization for composite structures with stress and manufacturing constraints using a parametric level set method

Fiber-reinforced composite materials are widely used in engineering fields. The design of curvilinear fiber paths is significant for improving the mechanical and manufacturing performances of the composite materials. Therefore, this paper presents an optimization method for curvilinear fibers with stress and manufacturing constraints. The membrane-embedded model is adopted to simulate the composite materials because it does not require extensive constitutive tests. Curvilinear fiber paths are described using the parametric level set method, which naturally avoids the crossing of fiber tows. The fiber optimization model is to minimize structural compliance with stress and manufacturing constraints. Adjoint method is used to obtain the sensitivity information of the objective and constraint functions. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method. The structural stiffness of the optimized composites has been significantly increased while satisfying the stress and manufacturing constraints.