Estudo da otimização topológica em um componente estrutural de um veículo comercial pesado

Abstract

This work presents the application of topological optimization on a structural component of a heavy commercial vehicle, aiming to create a new design without compromising stiffness. The study focuses on the cast central part of the rear suspension crossmember, disregarding the side flanges due to restrictions in this optimization process. 3D modeling, the Finite Element Method (FEM), and specific softwares were used to define the domain, boundary conditions, and project constraints. The objective function was the minimization of compliance. The new design, refined in CAD, reduced the component’s mass by 48.5%, maintained torsional stiffness, and met all project requirements, demonstrating the feasibility of topological optimization in automotive engineering.