A multidisciplinary optimisation framework for fibre-reinforced composite materials
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The high standards of modern societies have amplified the challenges of developing new products. These products must meet strict structural and sustainability requirements while remaining cost-effective to guarantee competitiveness. Meeting these often-conflicting requirements simultaneously is a significant challenge. To address these demands, creating multidisciplinary optimisation tools is vital. Due to their extensive design possibilities, these tools become even more valuable for fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. These materials can be tailored by varying the proportions of virgin and recycled fibres and resins. Furthermore, different fabric structures, manufacturing processes, and recycling methods can significantly affect the final components' carbon emissions, structural performance, and cost [1], [2]. As a result, all these interconnected variables must be integrated into a comprehensive multidisciplinary optimisation framework. This proposed optimisation framework addresses this challenge by developing the following four modules using Finite Element and Python tools: - Material: Defines the range of virgin/recycled fibre/matrix combinations to study and the component geometry to generate the design solution space. - Ecological and cost: Calculates the operation cost and environmental emissions of manufacturing and recycling processes. - Structural: Integrates a Modified Rule of Mixtures (MRoM) model to estimate mechanical properties. - Holistic optimisation: Uses advanced optimisation algorithms to calculate the optimal material combinations to minimise cost and carbon emissions whilst accomplishing mechanical requirements. In conclusion, this multidisciplinary optimisation framework addresses the challenge of identifying optimal FRP composites while accounting for complex factors, including cost, sustainability, and mechanical performance. It is achieved using customised cost, ecological, and structural models that calculate key parameters for the studied fibre/resin combinations.
