# Towards an Automated Optimization of Laminated Composite Structures: Hierarchical Zoning Approach with Exact Blending Rules

## TL;DR

This paper introduces an efficient automated optimization method for laminated composite structures that ensures compliance with blending rules, achieving near-optimal solutions with minimal rule violations.

## Contribution

A novel hierarchical zoning approach with an exact blending rules algorithm that improves optimization efficiency and accuracy in composite structure design.

## Key findings

- Blending rules compliant solutions are within 10% of unconstrained optima.
- The method reduces computational costs compared to traditional bi-level schemes.
- Validated on two example applications with successful results.

## Abstract

We present an automated methodology to optimize laminated composite structures. Our approach, inspired by bi-level optimization scheme, avoids its prime deficiencies and is based on developed computationally inexpensive stacking sequences reconstruction algorithm, which identically satisfies conventional set of blending rules. We combine it with proposed tight approximation to feasible domain of composite integral parameters and hierarchical zoning procedure to get highly efficient optimization methodology, which we test in two example applications. In both cases it is shown that blending rules compliant optimal solution remains within 10% gap from one with no rules applied.