Relation between Statistical Load Transfer Ustar Index and Vehicle Body Stiffness

Abstract

To investigate load transfer in vehicle bodies, an index Ustar (U^*) is widely used. For multiple load path structures, it is desirable that the average and the variance in the frequency distribution of U^* be small. We introduce a new statistical concept called the U^*-variance of a U^* histogram that can be derived from the U^* transform with the U^* kernel composed of a multiplex power series. The values of the U^*-variance and body stiffness have a close relation, and from a linearized relation we can find the statistical ideal stiffness of the target body.