Selection of Vehicle Architecture for EcoCAR Competition Using Axiomatic Design Principles

Abstract

Axiomatic design (AD) techniques have not previously been applied in designing the overall architecture of an automobile. The present work investigates use of axiomatic design concepts for vehicle design in the Texas Tech University Eco-CAR program. The three different architectures considered are fuel cell, two-mode hybrid, and belt alternator/starter system (BAS+). The objective in using axiomatic design methods is to choose an architecture for the EcoCAR competition vehicle that follows the principles of axiomatic design, and in turn, should prove to be the best choice of vehicle architecture among the three considered. Function means trees (FMT) and design matrices (DM) are constructed for each of the architectures and are used in deciding whether the architecture is a coupled, uncoupled, or decoupled design per the independence axiom. The choice is supported by means of simulation results obtained for each architecture. Finally, a two-mode hybrid architecture is selected based on the use of axiomatic design and the simulation results.