Title: Reliability optimisation of an electric bus frame orienting side impact safety and lightweight

Authors: Jiaqi Liu; Rongxiao Dai; Tao Wu; Peng Zhou; Xiujian Yang

Addresses: Faculty of Transportation Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China ' Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Yunnan Vocational Institute of Energy Technology, No.8 North Wenyuan Rd., Qilin District, Qujing, 655000, China ' National Technology Center, Kunming Yunnei Power Co., Ltd., No. 66, Jingjing Road, Kunming Economic and Technological Development Zone, Kunming, 650200, China ' Faculty of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Kunming Metallurgy College, No. 388, Xuefu Rd, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650500, China ' Faculty of Transportation Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, No.727 South Jingming Rd., Chenggong District, Kunming, 650500, China

Abstract: In this study, optimising design of an electrical bus frame for lightweight is carried out based on the surrogate model method while ensuring the side crashworthiness of the body frame. Eleven groups of design variables are determined for optimisation according to the relative sensitivity analysis. A high-precision surrogate model constructed by the methods of least squares regression (LSR), moving least squares (MLSM) and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is chosen as the final optimisation model. A reliability optimisation scheme is proposed, formulated, solved and evaluated by FE simulations. It is revealed that after optimisation the lightweight objective has been achieved and most of the other performances of the bus body frame especially the side crashworthiness has been improved obviously as well.

Keywords: electric bus frame; lightweight; side impact; surrogate model; design of experiment; reliability optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVP.2023.131972

International Journal of Vehicle Performance, 2023 Vol.9 No.3, pp.225 - 249

Received: 08 Oct 2021
Accepted: 24 Feb 2022
Published online: 05 Jul 2023 *

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