A process for predicting minimal asymmetric laminate cure shape distortions was developed. An analytical model based on the principle of minimum potential energy was utilized to predict the cured shape of an asymmetric laminate. This model was combined with an optimization routine to find the ideal fiber orientation which produced the least amount of cured shape distortion.

The result of the routine for a 200 x 200 mm laminate yielded an optimized configuration having less than 1 mm of deflection. The optimal layup was verified with a test laminate and numerical model. The analytical and numerical results were in good agreement with the measured displacements of the test laminate. The effect of cut-outs on the displacement field was assessed and it was found that they had no significant effect. This was observed in a test laminate and confirmed with numerical models.

A box design was created utilizing the optimized laminate for radiation testing purposes. The developed procedure provides a fast an efficient way to produce distortion minimized asymmetric laminates.