Optimization of Corrugated Claddings

Abstract

General considerations, a numerical procedure, and several examples for the optimization of corrugated claddings are presented. The objective of this study is to minimize bending stresses due to bending moment acting on the cladding by designing the appropriate profiles that satisfy the imposed dimensional constraints. A numerical procedure, termed the method of local variation, is proposed for a systematic improvement in the geometry of the optimized profile, and solutions are verified against some limiting cases. This method of local variation is used to optimize the cross-sectional geometry of corrugated cladding using constraints on the coverage, the contour length, and the height of the cross section. The procedure is also extended to include the effects of additional panels added to both sides or to one side only. The results indicate that the simple corrugated profile with no added panels is the most effective in terms of providing maximum section modulus for a given coverage and volume of material. The use of optimal core profiles has been shown to result in considerable improvement when compared to simple shapes.