Application of Structural Optimization on Alloy Wheel Rim: Design of Experiment

Abstract

Automobile wheel was an important component of the automobile. The optimization design for a kind of aluminum alloy automobile wheel was implemented using a design of experiment in this paper. In the shape of the wheel, parameters affecting the overall efficiency such as strength, stiffness and weight are selected and simulation experiment are completed using Minitab software according to the Box-Behnken design. Then, the response surface model is obtained from the response surface method (RSM) and the static analysis was done using ANSYS for each designs with different combination of parameters produced by response surface model. As a result, the optimal parameters of the wheel are determined by finding the minimum value of the response model. A shape of an optimized wheel is determined by the response surface model and validity is confirmed by analyzing and comparing the characteristic of characteristic of wheel with the datum design. Lastly, Transient Thermal analysis of the optimized alloy wheel is aimed at evaluating the performance of alloy wheel of a car under static conditions specifically in hot weather.