Shape and size optimization of functionally graded sandwich plates using isogeometric analysis and adaptive hybrid evolutionary firefly algorithm

The paper presents an effective methodology for modeling and simultaneously optimizing the layer thicknesses (shape) and the ceramic volume fraction distribution (size) of functionally graded (FG) sandwich plates under free vibration in the framework of isogeometric analysis (IGA). The multi-patch B-spline basis functions separately defined in each of the layer thicknesses are used to represent the ceramic volume fraction distribution....