Full Length Research Paper

A novel design of lower vehicle arm based on optimization technique

Wafaa Mahdi Salih

Centre of Training and Workshops, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

E-mail: drwafaa_ir@yahoo.com.

Accepted 19 January, 2011.

Abstract

In the automotive industry, the riding comfort and handling qualities of an automobile are greatly affected by the suspension system. The scenario of this paper presents the Robust Design of suspension arm using a technique Stochastic Design Improvement (SDI) based on Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) then also to identify the critical location and to find optimum result and suitable materials for the suspension arm. The structural model of the suspension arm was utilizing the Solid works and aluminum alloys (AA7075-T6) as the selected suspension arm materials. The finite element model and analysis were performed utilizing the finite element analysis code. The TET10 mesh and maximum principal stress were considered in the linear static stress analysis, and the critical location was considered at node (96080). SDI has been performed to the design. A target output behavior is selected from the output variables available in the analysis. The result shows that the lower arm design has a higher capability to stand a higher pressure as 9.18 MPa with the stress acted on the lower arm is 41 MPa.

Key words: Robust design, SDI, aluminum alloy, lower arm.