Masoud Rais-Rohani: Modeling and Design of Composite Structures Research

The goal of this research is to investigate modeling and optimization techniques ranging from tailoring of ply orientation angle and thickness in design of laminated composite structures to micromechanical modeling of nanofiber enhanced polymer materials.

Highlights of research sponsored by NASA, DOE, and NSWCCD:

  • Computational modeling of extrusion-based additive manufacturing informed by process-structure-property-performance relationships
  • Design, modeling, simulation, and optimization of thick-walled origami-inspired rapidly-deployable foldable shelters
  • Reinforcement layout and sizing optimization of composite submarine sail structures
  • Analytical modeling of buckling and vibration characteristics of composite sandwich plates with elastic rotational edge restraints
  • Micromechanical modeling of nanofiber enhanced polymer composite materials to explore the effects of inhomogeneous, three-dimensional interphase and nanofiber waviness

Stiffener Layout Optimization Technique graphic

Alternative topology optimization techniques are used to determine the optimal layout of the internal stiffeners supporting large composite structures. Significant weight savings can be achieved when sizing optimization follows a stiffener layout optimization.

Publications: (*Student, **Postdoc)

  • Verzoni*, A. and Rais-Rohani, M. “Transition Analysis of Flat-Foldable Origami-Inspired Deployable Shelter Concepts,” Engineering Structures, Vol. 273, 115074, 2022.
  • Rouhi*, M. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Influence of Interphase and Inclusion Waviness on Stiffness Properties of a Nanoenhanced Matrix,” Hybrid Polymer Composite Materials, Properties and Characterisation, V.K. Thakur, M.K. Thakur, and A. Pappu (Eds.), Woodhead Publishing, ISBN 978-08-100787-7, 2017.
  • Rouhi*, M. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Predicting the Elastic Properties of CNF/Thermoset Polymer Composites Considering the Effect of Interphase and Fiber Waviness,” Nanocomposites Characterization: Technology and Industrial Applications, F. Abdi and M. Garg (Eds.), Pan Stanford Publishing, ISBN 978-981-4669-02-3, 2017.
  • DorMohammadi*, S., Rais-Rohani, M., and Rouhi*, M., “A Multilevel Approach for Analysis and Optimization of Nano-Enhanced Composite Structures,” Composite Structures, Vol. 131, pp. 1050-1059, 2015.
  • DorMohammadi*, S., Rais-Rohani, M., and Rouhi*, M., “Hierarchical Analysis and Optimization of Nano-Enhanced Composite Sandwich Plates,” AIAA SciTech 2014: 55th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/ AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, National Harbor, MD, Jan 13-17, 2014.
  • Rouhi*, M. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Effect of Nano-Inclusions on Probabilistic Design of Components Made of Hybrid Composite Materials,” 9th AIAA Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Specialist Conference, Boston, MA, Apr 8-11, 2013.
  • Najafi*, A., Huang, D., Abdi, F., and Rais-Rohani, M., “Test Validation on the Energy Absorption Behavior of Composite Tubes with Different Ply Architectures,” SAMPE 2012 Conference, Baltimore, MD, May 21-24, 2012.
  • Rouhi*, M. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Modeling and Uncertainty Quantification of Nanofiber Enhanced Polymer Composite Materials with Functionally Graded Interphase Properties,” 52nd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Denver, CO, Apr 4-7, 2011.
  • Rouhi*, M., Rais-Rohani, M., Lacy, T., Garg, M., and Abdi, F., “Mechanical Characterization of Nanofiber Enhanced Polymer with Application to Composite Crush Tubes,” 51st AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, Orlando, FL, Apr 12-15, 2010.
  • Sullivan, R., Hwang, Y., Rais-Rohani, M., Lacy, T., “Structural Analysis and Testing of an Ultralight UAV Carbon Composite Wing,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 814-820, 2009.
  • Eamon, C. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Integrated Reliability and Sizing Optimization of Large Composite Structures,” Marine Structures, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 315-334, 2009.
  • Eamon, C. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Structural Reliability Analysis of Composite Advanced Sail for Virginia Class Submarine,” Journal of Ship Research, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 165-174, 2008.
  • Rais-Rohani, M. and Lokits*, J., “Reinforcement Layout and Sizing Optimization of Composite Submarine Sail Structures,” Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 75-90, 2007.
  • Thompson*, M., Eamon, C., and Rais-Rohani, M., “Reliability-Based Optimization of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Bridge Deck Panels,” ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 12, pp. 1898-1906, 2006.
  • Rais-Rohani, M. and Lokits*, J., “Comparison of First- and Zeroth-Order Approaches for Reinforcement Layout Optimization of Composite Submarine Sail Structures,” 11th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference, Portsmouth, VA, Sep 6-8, 2006.
  • Sullivan, R., Rais-Rohani, M., Lacy, T., and Alday*, N., “Structural Testing of an Ultralight Composite UAV,” 47th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Newport, RI, May 1-4, 2006.
  • Thompson*, M., Eamon, C., and Rais-Rohani, M., “Reliability-Based Optimization of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Bridge Deck Panels,” 8th AIAA Non-Deterministic Approaches Conference, Newport, RI, May 1-4, 2006.
  • Rais-Rohani, M., Eamon, C., and Keesecker, A., “Structural Analysis and Sizing Optimization of a Composite-Advanced-Sail Design Concept,” Marine Technology, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 61-70, 2005.
  • Smitherman, D.V., Rais-Rohani, M., Dunn, D., and Perkinson, D., “Hybrid Robotic Habitat for Lunar Exploration,” Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF-2005): Conference on Human/Robotic Technology and the National Vision for Space Exploration, Albuquerque, NM, Feb 13-17, 2005.
  • Rais-Rohani, M. and Lokits, J. C., “Pseudo-Topology and Sizing Optimization of a Composite Advanced Sail Structure with Buckling Constraints,” 10th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference, Albany, NY, Aug 30-Sep 1, 2004.
  • Rais-Rohani, M. and Marcellier*, P., “Buckling and Vibration Analysis of Composite Sandwich Plates with Elastic Rotational Edge Restraints,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 37, No. 5, 579-587, 1999.
  • Deo*, S.K. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Reliability-Based Design of Composite Sandwich Plates with Non-Uniform Boundary Conditions,” AIAA-99-1580, 40th AIAA/ASME/ ASCE/AHS/ ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, St. Louis, MO, Apr 12-15, 1999.
  • Marcellier*, P. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Free Vibration and Buckling Analysis of Anisotropic Sandwich Plates with Edges Elastically Restrained against Rotation,” AIAA-98-2084, 39th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Long Beach, CA, Apr 20-23, 1998.
  • Harris*, R.H. and Rais-Rohani, M., “Analysis and Design Optimization of Composite Sandwich Plates Under Axial and Biaxial In-Plane Loads,” Developments in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Vol. 18, 8th Southeastern Conference on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, pp. 599-600, 1996.
  • Bennett, A.G., Rais-Rohani, M., Hall, K.R., Holifield, W., Sullivan, R. and Brown*, S., “Rapid Prototyping of Composite Aircraft Structures,” Invited paper, SAE Aerotech 1993 National Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, Sep 27-30, 1993.