Design optimization for an additively manufactured automotive component

Date

2018-03-11

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Inderscience Publishers

Type

Image, 3-D

Peer reviewed

Yes

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the design optimization and additive manufacture of automotive components. A Titanium brake pedal processed through Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is considered as a test case. Different design optimisation techniques have been employed including topology optimization and lattice structure design. Rather than using a conventional topology optimization method, a recently developed topology optimization method called Iso-XFEM is used in this work. This method is capable of generating high resolution topology optimised solutions using isolines/isosurfaces of a structural performance criterion and eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM). Lattice structure design is the other technique used in this work for the design of the brake pedal. The idea is to increase the stability of the brake pedal to random loads applied to the foot pad area of the pedal. The use of lattice structures can also significantly reduce the high residual stress induced during the SLM process. The results suggest that the integration of the design optimization techniques with a metal additive manufacturing process enables development of a promising tool for producing lightweight energy efficient automotive components.

Description

Other departments or research groups involved in the research: Centre for Additive Manufacturing - The University of Nottingham The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
Open Access article

Keywords

topology optimization, lattice structures, additive manufacturing, automotive, powertrain, XFEM, selective laser melting, SLM

Citation

Abdi, M., Ashcroft, I. and Wildman, R. (2017) Design optimization for an additively manufactured automotive component. International Journal of Powertrains, 7 (1/2/3), pp. 142-161

Rights

Research Institute