Reliability-based Topology Optimization Of Control Arm For Vehicle Suspension

At the background of vehicle lightweight, this paper focused on the control arm of suspension system, Based on the thesis of continuum structural topology optimization, in consideration of manufacturing constraints of industry process, combined with the thesis of reliability.Firstly, concluded and summarized the concept and development of topology optimization and reliability-based optimization, then introduced the main methods of continuum structural topology optimization.Secondly, selected several bad typical loading cases for vehicle simulation, obtained the loading of control arm, this can be regarded as the boundary conditions of static analysis and topology optimization. On one hand, the finite element model was built to conduct the analysis of strength properties of linear static condition, then acquired the compliance of different loading cases. On the other hand, the natural modes of constraint modals and freedom modals can be obtained.Thirdly, extended the design area in consideration of objectives and motion obstacles. Under different loading cases, while the constraints including volume fraction and manufacturability, the aim is to minimize the single objective of compliance and eigenfrequencies, considering huge structural difference could be found on the results of compliance or eigenfrequencies optimization, however only one result or structure was needed. A compromise programming method was adopted to define objectives of multi-compliance and multi-eigenfrequencies, which take the “distance” of design parameters of best parameters as the objective function. Based on the result of multi-objective topology optimization obtain the basic structure and transfer path of optimal model, the rebuilt model was rebuilt which compared with origin model. The result showed that the max stress and compliance decreased when the volume of structure decreased, thus the stiffness increased, the first three natural eigenfrequencies increased.Finally, the loads can be updated by reliability-based topology optimization thesis, thus the result showed that the structure has been strengthened in the central and connection positions, and the updated structure has reduced the hole, thus reflected the structure has adapted to the change of loads, and the new structure can be more reasonable.