Body Conceptual Design Research Articles

Optimizing Vehicle Body Cross-Sections Using a Parametric Mathematical Model

This paper proposes a fast optimization method of body section at the conceptual design stage, based on the demand for body performance in body concept design. The study first establishes a geometrically simplified model of the truss body structure and uses the transfer matrix method to establish a fully parameterized model of the geometrically simplified body under bending conditions. Then, the stochastic gradient genetic algorithm is used to optimize the solution and determine the geometric parameters of each section. In the example of this paper, after the optimization of the established meshless model, the mass of the whole vehicle is reduced by 30%, and the stiffness of the whole vehicle is greater than that of the benchmark vehicle (5128 N/mm, 4386 N/mm), and at the same time, compared with the conceptual design method of the body of CAE technology, the modeling time is greatly reduced, and the computational efficiency of the analytical method is greatly improved compared with the finite element method.

A Two-Level Cross-Sectional Optimization Approach for Automotive Body Concept Design

Concept design is vital important in development of auto-body and it has great effects on later design work. In this paper, a two-level cross-sectional optimization approach is presented to shorten concept design cycles. First, an exact structural analysis approach for spatial semi-rigid framed structures, i.e., the transfer stiffness matrix method proposed in our previous study, is adopted for both static and dynamic analyses of body-in-white (BIW) structure. A two-level cross-sectional optimization approach is then proposed for an automotive BIW lightweight design, and genetic algorithm is used to solve the optimization models. Afterward, an object-oriented MATLAB toolbox, using distributed parallel computing techniques, is developed to promote the concept design of the BIW structure. Finally, relevant numerical examples demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the proposed method.

An efficient structural optimization approach for the modular automotive body conceptual design

Appropriate structural analysis and optimization methods are of great significance for automotive body in conceptual design stage. This paper proposes a mathematical simulation approach to promote the conceptual design of modular body-in-white (BIW) model fast and effectively, which is based on the method of reverberation ray matrix (MRRM) and the genetic algorithm (GA). A simplified modular BIW conceptual model is used to predict early-stage static and dynamic characteristics, and a minimum mass of the BIW model is set as an optimization objective. Then the static and dynamic behaviors of auto-body are analyzed by the MRRM, and a cross-sectional size optimization model for the BIW structure is formulated and solved by the GA. Afterward, an object-oriented MATLAB toolbox is constructed to achieve the mathematical simulation method for the fast modeling analysis and the structural optimization processes of the modular BIW conceptual structure. Lastly, the validity of this structural optimization approach is demonstrated by a modular automotive body conceptual model.

An object-oriented MATLAB toolbox for automotive body conceptual design using distributed parallel optimization

Appropriate structural analysis and optimization methods are of great significance for the conceptual design of automotive body-in-white (BIW) structure. This paper simplifies BIW structure as a spatial semi-rigid framed structure to provide early-stage predictions. Then a novel exact transfer stiffness matrix method (TSMM) is proposed for both static and dynamic analyses of three-dimensional semi-rigid framed structures. The matrix storage and equation solution techniques for large-scale engineering structures are also considered. Additionally, a size optimization mathematical model for BIW conceptual structure is formulated and solved by genetic algorithm (GA). Afterwards, to promote the conceptual design of BIW structure, an object-oriented MATLAB toolbox, based on TSMM, is developed. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) and strategy design pattern are employed to facilitate the development of the toolbox. Distributed parallel computing technique is adopted to speed up the former sequential optimization algorithm with simple modifications. Lastly, the validity of this easy-used toolbox is demonstrated by a benchmarking auto-body.

The Implement of Optimization Design of a Car Body Based on VCD-ICAE System

In order to get the optimistic structure property and design parameters of a car body, the system of vehicle body concept design (VCD-ICAE) was developed by us to make the body design in the conceptual phase in the paper. It can build parametric geometry modeling and FEM model of body-in-white (BIW) automatically, and the structural stiffness was calculated. Based on the former model, a multi-objective optimization of the total body was designed to afford the reasonable parameters for detailed model of BIW, which realized lightweight of the whole body and high stiffness. In the paper, the total theory and flowchart of vehicle body concept design were afforded. An example with real body’s data was shown to prove the validity of the multi-objective optimization module in VCD-ICAE system. Finally, the optimal design scheme of the body was provided.

Development of an intelligent CAE system for auto-body concept design

The concept design phase is a critical step in auto-body design, as it has a great effect on later design work. This paper describes the implementation of an auto-body structure design in the early stages of a new auto-body developing program. In order to reduce the long design period and analysis error that plagues traditional auto-body concept design, an intelligent CAE system has been successfully developed and implemented based on the UGS NX/API opening platform. This system, the so-called ACD-ICAE (Auto-body concept design-intelligent computer aided engineering) System that means concept design-intelligent computer aided engineering system, employs a fully parametrized template method to build the conceptual auto-body geometry model and FEM model quickly and easily. It also integrates auto-body modeling, analysis and optimization on only one CAD platform via a parametric variables database. Moreover, all parametric variables are shared and updated in different phases of the ACD-ICAE System. A wizard User Interface (UI) based on knowledge of auto-body engineering was developed and used in this system. The procedures implementing the functional diagram of the ACD-ICAE system are also provided. A typical example of a car body concept design with four doors shows that the ACD-ICAE system is efficient and accurate.