Structural optimization with CADO method for a three-dimensional sheet-metal vehicle body

Abstract

The aim of this study is to increase power/weight ratio of a steel-alloyed vehicle body without any structural weakness and to use an integrated engineering solution of "computer-aided design, engineering and optimization (CADO)". In this optimization study, primarily the body's "computer-aided design (CAD)" parametric model has been prepared for some static analyses are essential for the design study. In the following step, some critical dimensions of the structure's parts have been defined as design parameters. The goal of the optimization study is a minimization of critical equivalent stress value is under the yield limit. In addition, a sensitivity study has been made on the body model with stress measures for an in-depth analysis. In various steps, Pro/Engineer CAD and Pro/MECHANICA computer-aided engineering (CAE) software has been used. Finally, the obtained results have been presented as both visually and in diagrams or tables. In other words, this study can be defined as a computer-aided design and optimization application of a sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) sheet-metal structural model. Consequently, for the solution of a sophisticated structural design problem, it has been seen that integrated CAD/CAE programs supported optimization techniques are vital much more proper to provide the time, error and cost reduction compared to classical design processes, can be given as contributes of this study to previous literature. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.