The case for multidisciplinary design approaches for smart fibre composite structures

This paper presents the development of a design tool for the design of fibre composite structures with embedded sensors. It is argued that the interaction between the requirements of the structure, sensors, manufacturing and maintenance in the design process, and the difficulties in imposing the new sensor requirements on the traditional disciplines, makes it difficult for innovative sensing technologies to be efficiently incorporated into designs. The field of multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) is introduced and a case made for including an MDO capability in a finite element analysis based design tool to manage the complexity of considering the multidisciplinary aspects of the design of structures with embedded sensors. The major required components of the design tool are highlighted and discussed. The paper also provides a description of the implementation of the MDO design tool for the design of adhesive joints with embedded and surface mounted sensors.