The Optimal Tailoring Problem
Goal: To determine the best combination of materials, and morphological and architectural parameters so as to meet property and performance requirements and to minimize an appropriate merit function
Since materials tailoring involves selection from among discrete alternatives the problem is one of combinatorial optimization
Reinforcement morphologies considered—unidirectional fiber, particulate, and two dimensional woven fabrics
Properties considered—composite density, elastic modulus, thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion