Author(s)

C. C. Chamis

Abstract

A computational simulation method is presented for Non-Deterministic Multidisciplinary Optimization of engine composite materials and structures. A hypothetical engine duct made with ceramic matrix composites (CMC) is evaluated probabilistically in the presence of combined thermo-mechanical loading. The structure is tailored by quantifying the uncertainties in all relevant design variables such as fabrication, material, and loading parameters. The probabilistic sensitivities are used to select critical design variables for optimization. In this paper, results of the non-deterministic optimization are presented with probabilistic lower bounds of 0.001 and upper bounds of 0.999. Keywords: applications-aerospace, composite components, thermal analysis, structural analysis, probability, ceramic composites. 1 Introduction Recent research activities have focused on developing multi-scale, multi-level, multi-disciplinary analysis and optimization methods. Multi-scale refers to formal methods which describe complex material behavior; multi-level refers to integration of participating disciplines to describe a structural response at the scale of interest; multi-disciplinary refers to open-ended for various existing and yet to be developed disciplines. For example, these include but are not limited to: multi-factor models for material behavior, multi-scale composite mechanics, general purpose structural analysis, progressive structural fracture for evaluating durability and integrity, noise and acoustic fatigue, emission requirements, hot fluid mechanics, heat-transfer and probabilistic simulations. Many of these, as well as others, are encompassed in an integrated computer code identified as Engine Structures Technology Benefits Estimator (EST/BEST) [1]. The

Keywords

applications-aerospace, composite components, thermal analysis, structural analysis, probability, ceramic composites.