As the global automotive industry pivots toward sustainable mobility, reducing vehicle curb weight remains a paramount objective for enhancing energy efficiency and range. This paper presents a robust and comprehensive methodology for the light weighting of a two-wheeler chassis through the integration of Design of Experiments based optimization and Power Spectral Density durability analysis. The study begins by establishing a baseline durability profile for the vehicle using frequency-domain durability simulations under random vibrational loading, ensuring a benchmark for structural integrity.
To explore the design space effectively, frame tube thicknesses are parameterized, and a Design of Experiments design matrix is constructed using Modified Extensible Lattice Sequence technique. This design matrix is solved, and a response matrix is built. These two matrices are combined, and appropriate curve-fitting techniques are applied to construct a Reduced Order Model. This mathematical surrogate model enables the rapid evaluation of the frame’s response under varying frame thickness combinations, thereby avoiding computationally expensive traditional Finite Element Analysis iterations.
The optimum combination of frame tube thicknesses is identified using the Global Response Surface Method. This configuration minimizes the overall mass of the vehicle while strictly maintaining predefined durability and safety targets. The final optimized frame is evaluated by a secondary Power Spectral Density durability analysis to validate the accuracy of the surrogate model’s predictions. The integration of this metamodel-based design approach results in a significant reduction in structural weight. Ultimately, this framework accelerates the design cycle by developing a lightweight, cost-effective, and durable structure, thereby minimizing the overall time-to-market for sustainable automotive products.