Load Path Analysis of Vehicle Body Structures under Eigenmode Deformation of Bending Vibration

The load path U* analysis is an effective tool for investigating the load paths in body structures. In the present study, a new index U** is introduced to investigate structures under distributed loading. The new parameter U** is a complementary concept of U*. Although the conventional index U* cannot be applied to cases of distributed loading conditions, the new index U** can be applied to those cases.

This paper describes the application of a load path U** analysis to improve efficiently the first eigenvalue of the vertical bending mode in a vehicle body structure model. It also explains how target parts for shape optimization are interpreted on the basis of a load path U** analysis when a load is applied to reproduce the first vertical bending mode.