Week 12 - Flex Bodies

AIM :-

To run a static ride analysis of flexible lower control arm and to determine the maximum and minimum stress and strain values.

SETTING UP THE MODEL :-

To load the suspension model, the assembly wizard is selected under the model option. Then front end of the vehicle is selected as the model type and no driveline is selected under driveline configurations. Under primary systems the front suspension is changed to Front SLA susp (1 pc. LCA). Once the above parameters are selected, the model is loaded.

Once the model is loaded, the type of analysis is defined. This is done by selecting the task wizard under analysis option. Under select task, the static ride analysis is selected and the vehicle parameters are set to default. Once the parameters are selected, the test rig is loaded.

To change the default rigid lower control arms to the flexible lower control arms, the lower control arm is selected under bodies. In the properties tab, the flex body option is selected and the graphic file is loaded.

Once the graphic files are loaded the flexible lower control arms replace the rigid lower control arms.

In order to connect the new lower control arms to the model the nodes option is opened and in the dialouge box, the only search interface nodes is selected and the find all option is selected. This provides the node id of the lower control arms.

After the interface node id are obtained, they are aligned by selecting the align all option. Once done the offset values become 0 and the lower control arms are connected to the model.

SETTING UP THE SIMULATION :-

The simulation type is set to quasi static and the analysis as static ride anlysis. This change happens after setting up the analysis type from the task wizard. The end time is set for 4s and the print interval for 0.01s. The motion solve file is saved and run.

OBTAINING THE STRESS AND STRAIN :-

After the simulation is run, the animate option is selected which opens the hyperview window. In the hyperview window the contour option is selected and the lower control arms are selected as the components. The stress and strain can be obtained under the result type. Once the parameters are selected the simulation is run which highlights the contours of the stress and strain.

Max and Min Stress,

The maximum stress is 4.74e+03 and the minimum stress is 1.246e-11. The maximum stress is observed at the joint of the springs.

Max and Min Strain,

The maximum strain is 1.289e-02 and the minimum strain is 4.119e-17.