Title: Vehicle structural analysis: a survey

Authors: G.H. Tidbury

Addresses: School of Automotive Studies, Cranfield Institute of Technology, UK

Abstract: This survey draws attention to the increase in the importance of structural analysis in automotive design in the past twenty years. Structural design has advanced in this period from the stage where new designs were based on experience, to the present position where very detailed computer analyses are carried out for most new designs. Static and dynamic analysis of integral sheet metal car bodies will be considered, as well as the rapidly growing ability of structural analysts to deal with the problem of large deformations on impact. The importance of a thorough understanding of the theory of thin-walled beams in the design of ladder frames for commercial vehicle is underlined. A somewhat arbitrary selection of references is given to illustrate the extent of research in this fast growing subject.

Keywords: vehicle design; automotive design; automobile structures; structural analysis; computer aided design; CAD; simulation; body engineering; static analysis; digital computer; vehicle design; dynamic analysis; crash analysis; side impacts; collapse hinge; plastic deformation; large deflection; roll over; chassis frame; strip beam theory, plate theory; finite element analysis; ladder frames; thin-walled beams.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1980.061360

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1980 Vol.1 No.2, pp.165 - 172

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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