A novel design methodology for optimized fiber layup of structural components made out of Core-less Filament Winding

The work of ICD/ITKE at the University of Stuttgart has successfully demonstrated the application of fiber-reinforced composites manufactured by coreless filament winding in architecture, being benefited by both the lightweight and high strength characteristics of the material. Due to material and fabrication novelty and complexity, conventional structural design methods for construction members have been greatly challenging. This research-orientated thesis seeks to develop an alternative methodology to find optimum fiber layups for a given surface geometry via a graphical optimization strategy based on structural performance requirements. Instead of using various fiber orientation angles, the overall stiffness of orthotropic laminate is characterized by a set of dimensionless variables called lamination parameters. Structural analysis with this method requires only using finite shell elements, avoiding the need for detailed fiber modeling in the simulations. The developed framework gives compact solutions on the optimal fiber orientations with their volumetric proportions and provides fiber layup design strategies directly associating structural information with the winding fabrication settings. The technique can easily be integrated into the structural design procedures involving multiple loading and geometry variations.

ITECH M.Sc. Thesis Project 2020: A novel design methodology for optimized fiber layup of structural components made out of Core-less Filament Winding
Yanan Guo

Thesis Advisers: Marta Gil Pérez 

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Achim Menges
Second Supervisor: Prof. Jan Knippers

in collaboration with: Gökhan Serhat