Application of a Multi-objective Genetic Algorithm in a Stabilisation Strategy for Flexible Panels in a Mean Flow

Abstract

The stability-control of a fluid-loaded flexible panel has been studied to determine the effectiveness of adding localized stiffening to control or postpone instability. In our previous work for the 2-D system a stabilisation strategy has been demonstrated by localised stiffening with a spring support. Similarly for the 3-D system, the effectiveness of the stabilisation method has also been shown by adding a transverse or streamwise stiffening strip. The most important goal for such stabilisation methods, for both 2-D and 3-D systems, is to refine the localised stiffening strategy to achieve the best use of multiple springs and stiffeners. In this paper we build upon our previous 2-D and 3-D work to develop and apply multi-objective genetic algorithm tools that are able to optimise the stabilisation strategy of added localised stiffness for different design problems: full solution spaces are presented for these problems from which optimal points are readily located.