Static, Dynamic and Optimization CAE Evaluation Applied on Vehicle Jack Support

Nowadays design and product engineers are looking to reduce costs and shorten time-to-market by eliminating physical prototypes and producing superior products by performing analysis earlier in the design cycle. In this way CAE analyses are normally used to direct the product development and to help to solve field failures. One of advantages that Finite Element analyses can provide is the possibility to change the parts design, implement ribs, reinforcements and change the material properties and thickness in a fast way and present the best solution for the part evaluated besides the great engineering cost reduction.

This paper presents a finite element analysis performed on a vehicle jack support that needed to be improved to withstand durability peak loads.

After defining the stress reduction target, the jack support was evaluated applying static and dynamic loads for several design proposals.

Also an optimization analysis was performed to find the optimal thickness to be used in the jack support to withstand durability peak loads.