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Power of a voxel approach to structural analysis and topology-shape optimization in automobile industries

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Abstract

Less structural analysis problems have been solved than those which are desired to be solved by automobile designers mainly because it is difficult to make numerical models of complicated automobile parts. This paper presents a method to overcome this difficulty by taking a voxel approach and a way how to realize that approach in practical automobile design processes. A high speed structural analysis code is developed to fully utilize vector/parallel processors. Special contact algorithm is introduced and implemented to the analysis code to properly treat jagged surfaces which are peculiar to a voxel model. A topology-shape optimization method using a homogenization method is also presented, and it is shown that this optimization method works extremely well if the voxel approach is taken.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vehicle Research Laboratory, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 1, Natsushima-cho, 237-8523, Yokosuka, Japan

    Toshikazu Torigaki

  2. Development Systems Department, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 560-2, Okatsukoku, 243-0192, Atsugi, Japan

    Katsuro Fujitani

Authors
  1. Toshikazu Torigaki
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  2. Katsuro Fujitani
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Correspondence to Toshikazu Torigaki.

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Torigaki, T., Fujitani, K. Power of a voxel approach to structural analysis and topology-shape optimization in automobile industries. Japan J. Indust. Appl. Math. 17, 129–147 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167341

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03167341

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