GENETIC ALGORITHM AS AN OPTIMISATION TOOL FOR AUTOMOTIVE COMPOSITE DRIVE SHAFT DESIGN

Abstract

Because composite materials have better specific stiffness and strength than traditional metallic 
constructions, there are several benefits to replacing them. It seems that lengthy, power drive shaft 
applications are best suited for advanced composite materials. The torque and rotational speed at which 
they function may be increased by adjusting their elastic characteristics. The purpose of this research is to 
examine the composite drive shaft's maximum torque, buckling torque transfer, and critical speed. The 
primary goal of this investigation is to determine if it will be easy to replace the steel drive shaft structure 
in rear-wheel drive passenger automobiles with composite constructions made of carbon/epoxy and 
glass/epoxy materials. Using a genetic algorithm as an optimization tool, parameters like ply thickness, 
number of plies, and stacking sequence are optimized for carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy shafts in order to 
determine whether composite structures are suitable for automotive drive shaft applications. The goal is 
to minimize the weight of the composite shaft, which is subject to constraints like torque transmission, 
torsional buckling load, and fundamental natural frequency