Topology Optimization And Finite Element Analysis On A Truck Frame

With the further development of structural optimization theory, structural topology optimization as a higher level of structural optimization design method is considered as a more complex, difficult and challenging task in the area of structural optimization. It can acquire the best distribution of material while maintaining or improving the structure and properties of materials, and it makes the complicated structures being neatly and reasoningly selected in concept design stage. This paper discusses its application in the field of a truck frame, the main works include:(1) Research topology optimization theory of more complicated topological structure, optimization models and optimization methods in the optimize application of a frame, and to provide guidance for practical engineering applications(2) The fundamental optimization model was built based on the design requirements and a truck's actual size, load, and the boundary conditions of truck frame using HyperWorks optimization module; considering the left-right symmetrical constraint and up-down symmetrical constraint, taking the deformation energy under each load step as objective function, and the volume fraction as constraint function, using the method of changing density, carried out several topology optimizations on a same model , then a set of results were got.(3) Following teacher'instruction, according to the layout of the frame and bearing requirements, the results of topology optimization, and reference to other experiences in and out of country, the initial structure of the frame was completed.(4) The intensity, stiffness and modal of the frame was analyzed through finite software OptiStruct, the results showed that the bending stiffness and torsional stiffness have been enhanced, in particular, torsional stiffness was enhanced nearly 11% ; bending modal frequency and torsional modal frequency were also increased, theoretically showed that the design of the frame was basically reasonable, and its stiffness, intensity be able to meet the design requirements, and has good dynamic characteristics.Through this study, some main conclusions about the structural topology optimization design and material distribution of the frame structure were gained: (1) Taking deformation energy minimization as the objective function, the volume ratio of heavy vehicles as constraint function to carry out two-dimensional frame Topology optimization design, can reduce the frame quality as far as possible, improve analytical efficiency, can also get more well-defined and continuous topological materials distribution.(2) The distribution of topological material is greatly related to the position of frame brackets and the loads on the brackets.(3) The lower the volume fraction constraint function is, the more deleted materials of the frame in the topology optimization process are, and the more difficulty the iterative calculating is. So how to set the constraint function is a key technique to balance the efficiency of topology optimization process.