Topology Optimization Method for Vehicle Body Structure to Meet Multiple Performance Requirements for Body Stiffness, Crashworthiness and NVH at the Same Time

Abstract

The topology optimization helps realize highly-rigid yet lightweight vehicle bodies for lower CO2 emissions. We developed a largescale nonlinear topology optimization method that simultaneously addresses linear (torsional stiffness and vibration) problems and nonlinear (crashworthiness) problems to control energy absorption by the vehicle body structure during a collision. The optimization of the entire vehicle body model produced a rigid truss-like structure, and all the objective functions converged to the desired level. Consequently, an optimal shape that can be used as a reference for designing a car body frame structure and that simultaneously satisfies stiffness, crashworthiness and NVH performance requirements was obtained.