Roof Design

OBJECTIVE :
- The objective of this project is to design car roof with essential flanges and reinforcements like ditch area , front roof rail , bow roofs, central roof rail and rear roof rail for the the given input data
- Perform a curvature study on the roof and perform the calculations for the heat distortion and snow load criteria to determine whether the bow roofs are at the correct positions.
- Finding moment of inertia and section modulus for Bow roofs , central roof rail . front roof rail and rear roof rail .
CAR ROOF :
An automobile roof or car top is the portion of an automobile that sits above the passenger compartment, protecting the vehicle occupants from sun, wind, rain, and other external elements. Roof is the structure above the wind shield glass having the reinforcements to provide the strength to the overall structure and to with stand the over head forces like snow
If the roof is flat it is very weak and cannot able to with stand the forces like snow , so in order to increase the strength of the roof these reinforcements like front roof rail, central roof rail, rear roof rail and the bow roofs are introduced and joined to the flat surface of the roof with the different joining process
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR A ROOF :
- Visibility criteria
- Head clearance
- Curvature study
- Heat distortion and snow load criteria
- Draft analysis
Types of reinforcements on the car roof :
- Front roof rail
- Bow roofs
- Central roof rail &
- Rear roof rail

FRONT ROOF RAIL :
Front roof rail is the one which joins the wind shield glass , body side outer and the inner panel also. Here the front roof rail is designed based up on the master saection given

REAR ROOF RAIL :
Rear roof rail is the one which joins the back door and the body side outer

CENTRAL ROOF RAIL :
Central roof rail helps in providing effectively support to the flat area of the roof as it is more susceptible to failure under the action of load . generally central roof rail is placed at the center of the roof which is connected to the B-pillar support structure.

BOW ROOFS :
The bow roofs are give to improve the torsional stiffness and load bearing capacity of the roof structure . The number of bow roof present depends on the overall size of the roof .

HEAT DISTORTION STUDY ON THE ROOF :
The heat distortion study plays a major role in sheet metal usage . heat distortion temperature is a temperature limit above which the material cannot be used for the structural applications . This study is used to predict the heat distortion temperature at where the material starts to soften when exposed to a fixed load at elevated temperature . In order to avoid bending or damages on the roof, based on the heat distortion temperature , this study will predict the bow roof position which helps to strengthen the roof .
Bow – roof prediction Formula
W = [1.73 x 10^(-3) x L] + [1.85 x 10^(-8) x (R^2)/t] + [ 1.10x10^(-3) x l] - 2.68
Where
L = Roof Length in X-Direction[mm](Roof dimension in 0-Y)
R = Roof curvature
R = 2(Rx*Ry)/(Rx+Ry)
Rx = X curvature
Ry = Y curvature
t = Roof plate thickness [mm]
l = Bow Roof Span [mm]
Judgement Condition : OK< 2.7> 3.1

APPLY THE VALUES IN THE FORMULA :

From the above table it can be concluded that all values of w<2.7 and also not w>3.1 so thus infers that current positioning of bow row are good in state as per design and found ok
SNOW LOAD CRITERIA :
This test is done to know how is the roof behaving when there is a snow over . normally due to the snow weight the dent will happen. But the roof should be designed in such a way that when the snow is removal the roof should go it its original position . This is the basic requirements for snow load criteria .
Qr = [Iy x t2] / [α x s x [(Rx + Ry)/2]2 x 10-8]
Where
α = My x Lx2 x 10-12 , My = Y(Ly-Y)
Judgement condition = Qr ≥ 3.1
250 ≤ s ≤ 380
t = Roof plate thickness [mm]
Ly = Distance between the front and rear roof Rails on the Vehicle along with 0Y[mm]
Length of Roof panel with the center point between Roof rail Front /Rear as the reference point of the front and the rear.
Lx = Distance between the Left and Right end of the roof on the Roof BOW [mm]
Width of the roof panel exposed on the surface.
Y = Distance front Front Roof Rail to Roof BOW[mm]
s = Distance for which Roof BOW bears divided load [mm]
s = L1/2 + L2/2
Iy = Geometrical moment of inertia of Roof BOW (Y cross-section )[mm4]
Rx = Lateral direction curvature radius of roof panel Y cross-section on Roof BOW [mm]
Roof panel curvature Radius of the Length Lx in Front view
Ry = Longitudinal Direction curvature radius of the Roof panel X cross-section on Roof BOW [mm]

APPLY THE VALUES IN THE FORMULA :

It is observed from the values that obtained values of QR > 3.1 ,design found ok
Section analysis:
Section moment of inertia is used to predict the amount of deformation and deflection of a part. A higher moment of inertia is preferable as it reduces the amount of deflection for a given force. The thickness of the part and addition of flanges and embosses increase the section inertia of the part. Here the master sections of the roof and roof rails and their section analysis are given.
BOW ROOF 1

BOW ROOF 2

CENTRAL ROOF RAIL :

ROOF IMAGES :
TOP VIEW :

BOTTOM VIEW :

ISOMETRIC VIEW :

CONCLUSION :
Hence the roof , front roof rail, bow roof rails , central roof rail and the rear roof rail is designed by following the master sections and the moment of inertia are carried out to check feasibility manufacturing.