Title: Analysis of vehicle structures

Authors: A .K. Butkunas

Addresses: Ford Motor Company

Abstract: The challenge of the eighties is to make the computerized structural analysis technology, developed mostly in the seventies, a productive tool of vehicle design and development activities. This article describes modelling philosophy as well as systems and facilities used to support extensive modelling and analysis activities at Ford. Structural analysis support of vehicle design starts in early concept design and continues until a few months before production. Each vehicle design phase requires a varying extent of analysis support and emphasizes different areas of analysis capabilities. This article describes various analysis procedures used to support design: static and dynamic analysis of vehicle body structure; acoustic analysis of passenger air space; and evaluation of body structure dynamic effects on overall vehicle noise, vibration, and harshness. Selected design analysis examples are included to show, in key areas of investigation, the use of analysis results in vehicle design and development.

Keywords: vehicle design; modelling; computer graphics; design philosophy; linear analysis; nonlinear analysis; Ford; vehicle body structure; structural analysis; acoustic analysis; vehicle dynamics; vehicle noise; vehicle vibration; harshness; vehicle NVH.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1984.061086

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1984 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.3 - 25

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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