Parameters Optimization of S-Shaped Rail for Crashworthiness Analysis

摘要

In this paper, an efficient optimal design method is presented and utilized to obtain optimal crashworthiness design of the S-rails. The methodology adopted in this research made use of Design of Experiments, Finite Element Analysis, Response Surface Method and Genetic Algorithm. An S-Rail impact model is extracted from a true rail used in vehicle frame. The major structure parameters of the S-shaped rail have been proposed and used to optimize the S-rail's structure. Parameters that have remarkable influence on energy absorption were considered as model variables, the other dimension parameters of S-shaped rail were taken into consideration as constant. The quadratic models for energy absorption and maximum impact force were created using response surface methodology exploiting finite element analysis results. Response surface model was interfaced with genetic algorithms to find the optimal parameter values. Then the relationships between energy absorption and the proposed variables were revealed. The original S-Rail and the optimal S-Rail was added to an FE off-road vehicle model respectively. The vehicle model was used to perform 40% offset-barrier impact scenario at impact velocity of 64 km/hr. The results indicate the promising capabilities of the proposed methodology for optimal design of S-rails in automotive industry.