Reliability analysis based on gradient and heuristic optimization techniques of composite laminates using element-free Galerkin method

¹ Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Rouen, Laboratoire de Mécanique de Rouen, BP 08, Avenue de l'Université, 76801 Saint-Etienne du Rouvray, Cedex, France
² Federal University of Uberlândia, School of Mechanical Engineering, 2121, Av. Joao Naves de Avila, Campus Santa Mônica, CEP 38400-902 CP 593, Uberlândia, Brazil

Corresponding author: jhojan_enrique@yahoo.es

Received: 27 December 2007
Accepted: 25 March 2008

Abstract

This work presents a reliability methodology that couples gradient and heuristic based reliability methods with element-free Galerkin method applied in composite laminates structures. First and second order reliability methods are the gradient based reliability methods. The heuristic based reliability method suggested by authors uses natured-inspired optimization method: genetic algorithms. Numerical examples on linear elasticity that involve random properties of laminated composite plates are presented in order to demonstrate the efficiency, capacity and robustness of the proposed methodology. The results show that the predicted reliability levels are accurate in comparison with similar approach that uses finite element analysis to evaluate implicit limit state functions.