Structure Optimization And Its Application In The Light Artillery Design

Structural optimization is one of the key technologies of the howitzer’s key parts’ lightweight design. Lightweight howitzer’s key parts backtrail and cradle were regarded as research projects. Problems about the uses of the structural optimization on the lightweight design of howitzer’s parts were studied, mainly including:(1) A rigid-flexible-coupling static finite element analysis model of the backtrail-backarm-soil system was built to analyze the backtrail’s structural function. In this FEM model, finite and infinite mixing elements were used to simulate half-space body soil.(2) A parametric optimization model which had a multi-objective function including backtrail’s maximum stress and backtrail’s mass was built. NSGA-II was employed in the optimization calculation, a pareto solution set of backtrail’s maximum stress and backtrail’s mass was fond as the optimized solution of the deterministic optimization.(3) A6-sigma robustness analysis was carried out on the stress of the backtrail’s weld bead and heat-affected zone. A reliability fault of the deterministic optimized solution was fond. A6-sigma robustness optimization of the backtrail’s structure was carried out to deal with the fault.(4) Aiming at cradle’s specific motion and support characteristics, a multi-condition static finite element analysis model was built to analyze the cradle’s structural function. Setting up of some key parameters in the variable density method topology optimization was also studied. The limitation of the single-condition static topology optimization in the design of cradle’s lightening hole was described. A design method of cradle’s lightening hole based on the topology optimization and stratified sequential optimization was presented to carry out the cradle’s multi-condition coordinated optimization. The design method has got a success in the design of cradle’s lightening hole.The research depicted above will be of reference value to the design of ultra weight-light towed howitzers’parts and structural optimization and its engineering application.