Design of automotive joints: using optimization to translate performance criteria to physical design parameters

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dc.contributor.authorZhu, Minen
dc.contributor.committeechairNikolaidis, E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHaftka, Raphael T.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHughes, Owenen
dc.contributor.committeememberJasuja, S.C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJohnson, Eric R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKnight, Charles E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberYang, R.en
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:13:56Zen
dc.date.adate2008-06-06en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:13:56Zen
dc.date.issued1994en
dc.date.rdate2008-06-06en
dc.date.sdate2008-06-06en
dc.description.abstractIn the preliminary design stage of a car body, targets are first set on the performance characteristics of the overall body and its components using optimization and engineering judgment. Then designers try to design the components to meet the determined performance targets and keep the weight low using empirical, trial-and-error procedures. This process usually yields poor results because it is difficult to find a good design that satisfies the targets using trial-and-error and there might even be no feasible design that meets the targets. To improve the current design process, we need tools to link the performance targets and the physical design parameters. A methodology is presented for developing two such tools for design guidance of joints in car bodies. The first tool predicts the performance characteristics of a given joint fast (at a fraction of a second). The second finds a joint design that meets given performance targets and satisfies packaging and manufacturing constraints. These tools can be viewed as translators that translate the design parameters defining the geometry of a joint into performance characteristics of that joint and vice-versa. The methodology for developing the first translator involves parameterization of a joint, identification of packaging, manufacturing and styling constraints, and establishment of a neural network and a response surface polynomial to predict the performance of a given joint fast (at a fraction of a second). The neural network is trained using results from finite element analysis of several joint designs. The second translator is an optimizer that finds the joint with the smallest mass that meets given performance targets and satisfies packaging, manufacturing and styling constraints. The methodology is demonstrated on a joint of an actual car.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.extentxiii, 162 leavesen
dc.format.mediumBTDen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.otheretd-06062008-165515en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06062008-165515/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/38327en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartLD5655.V856_1994.Z58.pdfen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 32772064en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V856 1994.Z58en
dc.subject.lcshAutomobiles -- Bodies -- Design and constructionen
dc.subject.lcshJoints (Engineering) -- Design and constructionen
dc.titleDesign of automotive joints: using optimization to translate performance criteria to physical design parametersen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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