MATERIAL MODEL SIMULATION OF A STEERING WHEEL
About
This project replicates a redesigning effort of a company which includes redesigning older part CAD versions into updated CAD models focusing on lighter design, low manufacturing cost and medium production rate.
As a first step, a CAD model of a steering wheel was designed from ground-up with major focus on weight reduction, airbag packaging and efficient injection molding manufacturing process. The overall project deals with a step by step process starting from designing, deciding on a manufacturing process and material model simulation used for the part. Since we are developing a steering wheel, more focus was given on vibration and static loading for the testing phase.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene material was chosen for this part.
CAD MODEL OF THE PART
A CAD model of a steering wheel was developed using Solidworks taking into consideration light-weighting strategies, low cost, air bag components packaging and efficient injection molding manufacturing process.
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COMPARISON OF CHANGES IN ORIENTATION TENSOR
The Stress-Strain plot generated in Digimat gives us an idea of the changes in the behavior of the chosen material depending on variations in the orientation tensor.
Here, the orientation tensors were altered between (0.9,0.1.0), (0.8,0.2,0) and (0.6,0.2,0.2).
COMPARISON OF CHANGES IN VOLUME FRACTION
The Stress-Strain plot generated in Digimat gives us an idea of the changes in the behavior of the chosen material depending on variations in the Volume Fraction of fibers.
Here, the volume fractions were altered between 40% (Red), 50% (Green) and 60% (Blue).
