A Study on Development of Highly Efficient Body in White Using Sensitivity Simulation

Abstract

Background: Recently, automakers have developed a deep concern for fuel efficiency to comply with strengthened environmental regulations. The simplest way to improve fuel efficiency is structural mass reduction; various mass reduction ideas have been developed and studied to improve fuel efficiency. However, excessive mass reduction may produce low stiffness of the overall structure, which can deteriorate vehicle performance in such aspects as structural durability, handling performance, and so on.

Results: In this paper, based on sensitivity analysis, an effective way is introduced to achieve structure mass reduction and to keep the torsional stiffness of the original structure. The vehicle parts that have sensitive effects on torsional stiffness have been investigated by optimization simulation using Optistruct.

Conclusion: Based on the simulation results, structure mass reduction is achieved without deterioration of the body torsional stiffness.

Keywords: Torsional Stiffness, Sensitivity Analysis, Optimization Simulation, B.I.W. (Body in White), Weight Reduction