An Efficient Optimal Design Methodology for Nonlinear Multibody Dynamics Systems with Application to Vehicle Occupant Restraint Systems
Abstract
The need exists for robust and efficient optimal design methods for application to multibody systems, in which the components to be designed represent connections between large displacement, large rotation motions of the subsystems' bodies. A specific application is an occupant restraint systems, such as the Gunner Restraint System (GRS), in which both the vehicle and the gunner can undergo large relative and absolute motions under extreme driving or external threat conditions. In addition, the restraint/connection components can have amplitude-dependent, time-dependent, and timing-dependent behavior, such as an active belt retractor. Current optimization methodologies are ill-suited for this problem, suffering from infeasibility, lack of robustness, and/or high computationally expense. This paper presents an extension of topology optimization techniques to consider multibody dynamics systems and to treat the much more open design space, which can include passive, active, and reactive structures/devices. The objective is to obtain an optimally combined structural and material system, considering the best use of passive, active and reactive members. This paper highlights: 1) dealing with design objectives that consider time-dependent, dynamic, large deformation responses; 2) general representative models for the multi-disciplinary (passive, active or reactive) components in a multibody dynamics simulation system; 3) designing an optimal system that can satisfy multiple requirements under various operating conditions; 4) an efficient sensitivity analysis method for the optimization problem of the restraint system; and 5) a general and advanced optimization algorithm that can solve the problems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA541533
Entities
People
- Gregory Hulbert
- Guang Dong
- James Sheng
- Ken-an Lou
- Madan Vunnam
- Noboru Kikuchi
- Sudhakar Arepally
- Zheng-dong Ma
Organizations
- United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center