Abstract
The design optimization of axially loaded, simply supported stiffened conical shells for minimum weight is considered, The design variables are thickness of shell wall, thicknesses and depths of rings and stringers, number/spacing of rings and stringers. Natural frequency, overall buckling strength and direct stress constraints are considered in the design problems. Optimization results are obtained by placing the stiffeners inside as well as outside the conical shell. In both these cases, the independent effects of behavior constraints are also studied. The optimum designs are achieved with one of the standard nonlinear constrained optimization techniques (Davidon-Fletcher-Powell method with interior penalty function formulation) and few optimal solutions are checked for the satisfaction of Kuhn-Tucker conditions.
