Conceptual Design for the Structure of Electric Car Body

In this paper, ANSYS software is applied to determine the material distribution, load transfer path and equivalent sectional dimensions of the conceptual car body model based on the original body shape of engine cars. In terms of the finite element model of the body, the topology optimization is carried out according to the maximum bending and torsion stiffness, respectively. Through comparing the material distribution under different volume fractions and considering at the same time the manufacture feasibility, the initial style of body frame is achieved. Then, as the sectional dimensions of beams is optimized in both size and dimension, parameter matching scheme of the body frame in minimized weight is brought forward under constraints of the strength and stiffness at maximum frontal impact loads that improves the utilization rate of the material. The results suggest that both the design efficiency and quality can be improved greatly by combining topology and size optimization technology at the concept design phase of car body structure.