Study on application of MSOT method for lightweight design of automobile body structure

Li Jixiong,Wang Daoyong

doi:10.1177/1687814020965049

Abstract

In this study, the integrated MSOT (M-Multi-dimensional factor autobody model, S-Screening autobody component, O-Optimization of plate thickness, T-Testing, and validation) integration method is adopted to optimize the automobile body structure design for weight reduction. First, a multi-dimensional factor body model is established, then components of the vehicle are screened for the most important targets related to weight reduction and performance, and a multi-objective optimization is performed. Virtual experiments were carried out to validate the analysis and the MSOT method were proposed for lightweight design of the automobile body structure. A multi-dimensional performance model that considers stiffness, modality, strength, frontal offset collision, and side collision of a domestic passenger car body structure. Components affecting the weight of the vehicle were identified. Sheet metal thickness was selected as the main optimization target and a multi-objective optimization was carried out. Finally, simulations were performed on the body structure. The comprehensive performance, in terms of fatigue strength, frontal offset collision safety, and side collision safety, was verified using the optimized Pareto solution set. The results show that the established MSOT method can be used to comprehensively explore the weight reduction of the body structure, shorten the development process, and reduce development costs.

Highlights

At present, making vehicles as lightweight as possible is an important part of automobile body structure design and has become a subject of extensive research.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]
The weight of the vehicle structure can impact vehicle performance, for example, a lightweight car body structure design can contribute to the development of more energy efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles
The design and optimization of the automobile body structure is an important part of the vehicle design process

Summary

Introduction

At present, making vehicles as lightweight as possible is an important part of automobile body structure design and has become a subject of extensive research.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14] The automobile body accounts for about 40% of the total mass of the car; optimize the weight of the body structure can significantly reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, which can have many benefits. Wang et al.[17] selected 12 metal sheet thicknesses as the design variable for a certain vehicle body structure and performed multi-disciplinary multi-objective weight reduction optimization based, balancing modality, stiffness, and side impact safety.

Results

Conclusion