A methodology to generate design allowables of composite laminates using machine learning

A methodology to generate design allowables of composite laminates using machine learning

Furtado, C. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology; INEGI)
Tavares, R. P. (Universiteit Gent; INEGI)
Gomes Pereira, L.P. (TU Delft Team Georgy Filonenko; INEGI; Universidade do Porto)
Salgado, M. (Universidade do Porto; INEGI)
Otero, F. (International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE); INEGI)
Catalanotti, G. (University of Évora)
Arteiro, A. (Universidade do Porto; INEGI)
Bessa, M.A. (TU Delft Team Georgy Filonenko)
Camanho, P. P. (Universidade do Porto; INEGI)

2021

This work represents the first step towards the application of machine learning techniques in the prediction of statistical design allowables of composite laminates. Building on data generated analytically, four machine algorithms (XGBoost, Random Forests, Gaussian Processes and Artificial Neural Networks) are used to predict the notched strength of composite laminates and their statistical distribution, associated to the uncertainty related to the material properties and geometrical features. This work focuses not only on the so-called Legacy Quad Laminates (0°/90°/±45°), typically used in the design of composite aerostructures, but also on the newer concept of double-double (or double-angle ply) laminates. Very good representations of the design space, translating in low generalization relative errors of around ±10%, and very accurate representations of the distributions of notched strengths around single design points and corresponding B-basis allowables are obtained. All machine learning algorithms, with the exception of the Random Forests, show very good performances, with Gaussian Processes outperforming the others for very small number of data points while Artificial Neural Networks have better performance for larger training sets. This work serves as basis for the prediction of first-ply failure, ultimate strength and failure mode of composite specimens based on non-linear finite element simulations, providing further reduction of the computational time required to virtually obtain the design allowables for composite laminates.

Design allowables
Fracture mechanics
Machine learning
Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:4085be97-c634-4548-ba77-2dff78fd34e1

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2021.111095

0020-7683

International Journal of Solids and Structures, 233

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2021 C. Furtado, R. P. Tavares, L.P. Gomes Pereira, M. Salgado, F. Otero, G. Catalanotti, A. Arteiro, M.A. Bessa, P. P. Camanho