Optimization of elastic-plastic circular plates under axisymmetric loading

An optimization technique is developed for circular plates of piece-wise constant thickness. It is assumed that the plate has an ideal sandwich cross section with stepped carrying layers and with constant thickness of core material. The plates under consideration have been manufactured of an ideal elastic-plastic material obeying Tresca's yield criterion. Necessary optimality conditions are derived with the aid of the theory of optimal control. Obtained system of differential-algebraic equations is solved numerically in the case of the plate with single step of the thickness. Effectiveness of the design is assessed numerically.