Reliability analysis of bistable composite laminates

Bistable composite laminates are smart composites that have been employed for engineering structures due to their superlative offering of features like ability to change shape and low densities. Because of the embedded geometrical nonlinearity factor, a small variation of input parameters leads to significant changes in the response of the bistable composite laminates. In other words, Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) makes a change in the bistability characteristics. As a result, bistability behavior is extremely reliant on geometrical dimensions and elastic material properties as design parameters. Reliability analysis deals with the quantitative assessment of the occurrence probability due to UQ. In this regard, the reliability and sensitivity analysis of bistable composite plate are investigated through the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) and multiple types of uncertain parameters, geometry and material properties, are assumed as random variables. The results indicate bistable composite plates have a high probability to be bistability behavior with the assumed statistical properties. Moreover, the sensitivity reliability analysis illustrates that the thickness and coefficient of thermal expansion have more effect on the bistability behavior in comparison to other input parameters. The results are confirmed by comparing them with those determined by the Finite Element Method (FEM).