Due to the large variable design space in optimization problems of composite laminates, it remains one of the challenging tasks to develop efficient optimization design methods to improve the design flexibility and efficiency. This work presents a sequential permutation table (SPT) method for the multiobjective optimization design of two-material hybrid composite laminates with simply supported boundary conditions, which maximizes the fundamental frequency and minimizes the cost/weight. Based on the vibration analysis of hybrid composite laminates, the approximate linear regularity of the square of fundamental frequency is derived, and two best ply orientations for the two materials are identified, respectively. By assigning one best ply orientation with maximum fundamental frequency at respective stacking positions, and using another best ply orientation to replace plies in the stacking sequence from the mid-plane to the outermost can lead to the optimum. Two multiobjective optimization problems are employed to verify the SPT method, results are compared with those obtained by heuristic algorithms. The obtained better solutions demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the SPT method and its potentials for optimal design of hybrid composite laminates.
