Integrative CAE-Driven Design Process in the Embodiment Design Phase of L7e Vehicle Structures

Abstract

Over the last years, the idea of a simulation-driven design process has emerged [1]. The simulation-driven design process also includes the computer-aided engineering (CAE)-driven design process (CDDP). The CDDP offers a combination of simulation tools along with an adoptable and systematic approach to the design process. This combination enhances the possibility of applying as many simulation tools as necessary and enables designers to take advantage of reliable simulation methods. Sellgren [1] postulated that in major steps of the design process, computerbased modelling and simulations could support and provide the necessary information to reduce the working time.Engineers and designers can profit from the CDDP by tailoring the design process to their needs. However, the broad definition of design sequence steps for a design process is usually poor and generic and only insufficiently link the design steps within the entire process. As a result, there are many examples of CDDPs that attempt to concretize the meaning of the CDDP idea but do so in different ways [2] to [4]. Some efforts focus on the application of numerous simulation tools; others search for solutions in a combination of optimization technology with different simulation environments. Moreover, existing examples are quite incomplete regarding a whole design process. These examples of existing CDDPs only cover a part of the design process, thereby reducing their usefulness for engineers and designers.While CDDPs may allow for a considerable time reduction in the development process, unintegrated CDDPs need to be rearranged whenever the development of a new product or item takes place [5]. As a result, an additional amount of working time is required for the ad-hoc planning of suitable design processes. Such unintegrated CDDPs aggravate the risks of introducing inadequate design steps for the development of new products that can have fatal financial consequences for the project budget.

Active Structural Derivator in the Design Crystallization Phase of L7e Vehicle Structures

“…The ASD requires a geometrical FEm to discuss the various BSTs. The geometrical FEm was obtained by utilizing the geometric solution derivation step of the ICDDP that allows engineers to translate the TO results [32] from the conceptual design phase of the ICDDP. Fig.…”

“…7b). Knowing the load paths and material distributions, engineers assess the characteristics of acting loads in the resultant design proposals by identifying shear fields and tension-compression areas [32]. Additionally, the lines of the load paths and material distributions help to recognize the rod-like and plate-like geo-metrical shapes from the bionic TO results.…”

“…The economic ad-vantages of the manufacturing process favor steels [44] over other materials. More importantly, the steel simplifies the simulationoptimization process compared to the composites, while at the same time offering similar stiffness, allowing for the generalization described in the previous work [32].…”

“…We propose the ASD method as an extension of our Integrative CAE-driven design process (ICDDP), published earlier in [32]. The ICDDP works as a framework for the ASD and this ICDDP is divided into three essential engineering phases of a new structure design: conceptual design, design crystallization and design sophistication ( Fig.…”

“…The same loads were applied as they were prepared for the conceptual design phase of a new structure [32]. These loads consider different load scenarios such as static, driving and crash situations that result in 19 different load cases.…”