Application and Experimental Validation of Gauge Sensitivity Indices for Vehicle Body Structure Optimization

Modifications to the thickness of the panels in traditional stamped-sheet vehicle body structures can adversely affect the associated noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics. Gauge sensitivity indices characterize the sensitivity of a design's structural performance parameters to such thickness changes, and provide guidance for maximizing the effectiveness of weight reduction efforts. The indices may be applied to an entire body-in-white (global gauge sensitivity), to specific body subsystems (component gauge sensitivity), or to specific critical points in the body continuum (local gauge sensitivity). This paper provides an overview of the theory behind gauge sensitivity methodologies and documents an effort to provide experimental validation of the results.