The automotive industry is facing a great challenge - reducing the weight of their vehicles. Carbon fibre composites are regarded by many as the only real option as traditional engineering materials are now running out of potential for further weight reduction. In this doctoral thesis a framework is presented which will provide guidelines for the conceptual phase of the development of an automotive composite body structure. The framework is initiated by defining ideal material diversity, as well as initial partition of the body structure based on process and material selection. Then, a further analysis of the structures is made in order to evaluate whether a more cost efficient solution can be found by further dividing the structure. Such a differential design approach is analysed in the third part of the work, studying both the financial and structural effects of such partitioning. In order to increase the understanding of the intimate relationship between design, material and manufacturing process, balancing manufacturing and structural optimization is addressed. Finally, drape simulation tools are used to assess the geometric complexity of composite structures in order to further quantify suitable split lines in cases of differential design approach. Different carbon fibre composite material systems and processes are compared and evaluated in the work. The results show that a high-performance material system with continuous fibres is both more cost and performance effective as compared to industrialised, discontinuous fibre composites. Further analysis shows the importance of balancing the design for manufacturing and the structural weight optimization of the structures in order to reach a cost and weight effective design. When restricting composite design freedom with manufacturing constraints, the great benefits of structural composites disappear and with this both weight and cost effectiveness. / <p>QC 20160418</p>

Orientador: Ricardo da Fonseca / Coorientador: Cecilio Viega Soares Filho / Banca: Danísio Prado Munari / Banca: Lenira El Faro Zadra / Resumo: O presente trabalho teve dois objetivos. O primeiro foi estimar componentes de (co) variância e parâmetros genéticos dos escores visuais (Estrutura, Precocidade de acabamento e Musculosidade), com características de crescimento, como o peso aos 18 meses, ganho de peso diário e perímetro escrotal na raça Nelore. O segundo foi avaliar a aplicação dos modelos lineares mistos na estimação de parâmetros e predição de valores genéticos, para escores visuais, utilizando dados simulados. Para atingir o primeiro objetivo, foi usada uma base de dados com registros de 7256 machos, participantes de provas de ganho de peso. As estimativas dos componentes de (co) variância foram obtidas usando o método de Máxima Verossimilhança Restrita, com modelo animal. Os efeitos fixos de grupo contemporâneo, idade e peso como covariável (efeito linear) e, o efeito genético aditivo, como aleatório, foram considerados no modelo. Os grupos de contemporâneos foram definidos por animais pertencentes a uma mesma prova de ganho de peso. As estimativas de herdabilidade e os erros padrões foram de 0,30 (0,04) para estrutura corporal; 0,37 (0,04) para precocidade e 0,32 (0,04) para musculosidade. As estimativas de correlações genéticas entre os escores visuais apresentaram-se altas, de 0,76 a 0,95, sendo a correlação entre a precocidade e musculosidade a que apresentou o maior valor. Estas correlações indicam que as características de escores visuais, são controladas, em grande parte, pelo mesmo grupo de genes. As estimativas de correlações genéticas entre os escores visuais e as características de ganho de peso diário, peso aos 18 meses e o perímetro escrotal, apresentaram uma tendência semelhante entre os escores, 0,45 a 0,50 entre os escores visuais e o ganho de peso diário; 0,80 a 0,83 entre os escores... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study had two objectives. The first was to estimate the (co)variance components and genetic parameters of the visual scores (Structure, precocity, and musculature), with growth traits, such as weight at 18 months, average weight gain and scrotal circumference in Nellore cattle. The second was to evaluate the application of linear mixed models in the parameter estimation and prediction of breeding values for visual scores, using simulated data. The first objective was achieved, using records of 7256 male participants in the evidence of weight gain. Estimates of covariance were obtained using the method of Restricted Maximum Likelihood with animal model. The fixed effects of contemporary group, age and weight like a covariate (linear) and the genetic effect like random, were considered in the model. Contemporary groups were defined by animals belonging to the same evidence of weight gain. Heritability estimates and standard errors were 0,30 (0,04) for body structure; 0,37 (0,04) for precocity and 0,32 (0,04) for musculature. Estimates of genetic correlation between visual scores showed up high, from 0,76 to 0,95, and the correlation between precocity and musculature that showed the highest value. These correlations indicate that the characteristics of visual scores are controlled largely by the same group of genes. Estimates of genetic correlations among visual score and average weight gain, weight at 18 months and scrotal circumference showed a similar trend between the scores, from 0,45 to 0,50 between visual scores and average weight gain; 0,80 to 0,83 between visual scores and weight at 18 months and -0,05 to -0,03 between visual scores and scrotal circumference. Estimates indicate that individual selection for structure, musculature or precocity genetic changes will bring the same... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:54:13Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 duitamacarreno_lo_me_jabo.pdf: 418537 bytes, checksum: 219fa72137bec5570e16d03b839eb3c8 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente trabalho teve dois objetivos. O primeiro foi estimar componentes de (co) variância e parâmetros genéticos dos escores visuais (Estrutura, Precocidade de acabamento e Musculosidade), com características de crescimento, como o peso aos 18 meses, ganho de peso diário e perímetro escrotal na raça Nelore. O segundo foi avaliar a aplicação dos modelos lineares mistos na estimação de parâmetros e predição de valores genéticos, para escores visuais, utilizando dados simulados. Para atingir o primeiro objetivo, foi usada uma base de dados com registros de 7256 machos, participantes de provas de ganho de peso. As estimativas dos componentes de (co) variância foram obtidas usando o método de Máxima Verossimilhança Restrita, com modelo animal. Os efeitos fixos de grupo contemporâneo, idade e peso como covariável (efeito linear) e, o efeito genético aditivo, como aleatório, foram considerados no modelo. Os grupos de contemporâneos foram definidos por animais pertencentes a uma mesma prova de ganho de peso. As estimativas de herdabilidade e os erros padrões foram de 0,30 (0,04) para estrutura corporal; 0,37 (0,04) para precocidade e 0,32 (0,04) para musculosidade. As estimativas de correlações genéticas entre os escores visuais apresentaram-se altas, de 0,76 a 0,95, sendo a correlação entre a precocidade e musculosidade a que apresentou o maior valor. Estas correlações indicam que as características de escores visuais, são controladas, em grande parte, pelo mesmo grupo de genes. As estimativas de correlações genéticas entre os escores visuais e as características de ganho de peso diário, peso aos 18 meses e o perímetro escrotal, apresentaram uma tendência semelhante entre os escores, 0,45 a 0,50 entre os escores visuais e o ganho de peso diário; 0,80 a 0,83 entre os escores... / This study had two objectives. The first was to estimate the (co)variance components and genetic parameters of the visual scores (Structure, precocity, and musculature), with growth traits, such as weight at 18 months, average weight gain and scrotal circumference in Nellore cattle. The second was to evaluate the application of linear mixed models in the parameter estimation and prediction of breeding values for visual scores, using simulated data. The first objective was achieved, using records of 7256 male participants in the evidence of weight gain. Estimates of covariance were obtained using the method of Restricted Maximum Likelihood with animal model. The fixed effects of contemporary group, age and weight like a covariate (linear) and the genetic effect like random, were considered in the model. Contemporary groups were defined by animals belonging to the same evidence of weight gain. Heritability estimates and standard errors were 0,30 (0,04) for body structure; 0,37 (0,04) for precocity and 0,32 (0,04) for musculature. Estimates of genetic correlation between visual scores showed up high, from 0,76 to 0,95, and the correlation between precocity and musculature that showed the highest value. These correlations indicate that the characteristics of visual scores are controlled largely by the same group of genes. Estimates of genetic correlations among visual score and average weight gain, weight at 18 months and scrotal circumference showed a similar trend between the scores, from 0,45 to 0,50 between visual scores and average weight gain; 0,80 to 0,83 between visual scores and weight at 18 months and -0,05 to -0,03 between visual scores and scrotal circumference. Estimates indicate that individual selection for structure, musculature or precocity genetic changes will bring the same... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Bodies provide important social information, and adults benefit from this information by recognizing and responding appropriately to bodies. Body recognition is enabled by the fact that human bodies are defined by parts, such as the limbs, torso, and head, arranged in a particular configuration. To understand the development of social cognition, it is important to analyze and document how infants come to recognize bodies. Infants are sensitive to distortions to the global configurations of bodies by 3.5 months of age, suggesting an early onset of body knowledge. It was unclear, however, whether such sensitivity indicates knowledge of the location of specific body parts or solely reflects sensitivity to the overall gestalt or outline of bodies. The current study addressed this by examining whether infants attend to specific locations in which parts of the body have been reorganized. Results of Experiments 1 and 2 show that 5-month-olds, but not 3.5-month-olds, are sensitive to the location of specific body parts, as demonstrated by a difference in allocation of attention to the body joint areas that were normal (e.g., where the arm connects to the shoulder) versus ones that were reorganized. Furthermore, to examine whether this kind of processing is driven by information from the face/head, in Experiment 3 I tested infants on images in which the face/head was removed. Infants no longer exhibited differential scanning of normal versus reorganized bodies. To further assess whether infants were responding to critical information provided by the face/head or whether their processing was disrupted solely because the headless images were incomplete bodies, Experiment 4 examined infants’ performance on body images missing limbs. Once again, infants failed to exhibit differential scanning of typical versus reorganized bodies. Together, these results suggest that 5-month-olds are sensitive to the location of body parts. However, the presence of the face/head (Experiment 3) and limbs (Experiment 4) are necessary for 5-month-olds to exhibit differential scanning of reorganized versus intact body images. Overall, by 5 months of age, infants are sensitive to precise locations of body parts, and thus demonstrate a rather sophisticated level of knowledge about the structure of the human body. The role that the face/head and limbs play in body structure knowledge development is still unclear, and future studies need to address this question.

Transgenic (TG) sorghum genotypes with altered kafirin synthesis were developed by the Africa Biofortified Sorghum Project, employing recombinant DNA technology, with the aim of improving the protein nutritional quality of the grain. In this project, the effects of altered kafirin synthesis on kafirin polymerisation, protein quality, protein body structure and endosperm texture in different TG lines were investigated. The first generation of TG lines were in a type II low-tannin sorghum background. Altered synthesis of different major kafirin sub-classes (α-, γ- and σ-kafirin) was targeted. Some TG lines had improved lysine content (3.17 g/100 g protein) and moderate (55%) to high (74%) cooked in vitro protein digestibility, compared to the parent (2.05 g/100 g protein; 47.4%, respectively). This is of significance as tannins reduce protein digestibility, by complexing with the proline-rich kafirins. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the improved protein quality traits were associated with floury endosperm texture and irregular protein body structure. Irregular protein bodies were 2-3 ìm in diameter, with few to numerous invaginations, compared to normal protein bodies. The high digestibility TG line also had a unique dense protein matrix, with occasional thick dark-staining inclusions. It appears that reduced kafirin synthesis, specifically γ-kafirin, has a major effect on the protein body structure, which in turn results in changes in protein digestibility and endosperm structure. To further improve the protein quality and poor endosperm texture of the first generation of TG lines, improved non-tannin sorghums were transformed to suppress kafirin synthesis, or they were back-crossed into TG lines with improved protein quality. Co-suppression of the α-, γ- and σ-kafirin sub-classes and removal of the tannin trait, resulted in TG with high cooked protein digestibility (±80%), improved Amino Acid Score (0.8) and Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (0.7) compared to the non-TG null controls (±50%, 0.4 and 0.2, respectively). However, these high-protein quality lines still had a floury endosperm texture. They also had irregular shaped protein body structure, as described previously. When fewer kafirin sub-classes were suppressed (only γ- and σ-kafirin) the endosperm was corneous with normal protein body structure, but the improvement in cooked protein digestibility was less. Apparently, co-suppression of several kafirin sub-classes is required to obtain high-protein quality sorghum, but this seems to result in floury-type grain endosperm. Further work conducted on the high digestible TG line revealed that the proportion of kafirin-1, extracted with 60% tert-butanol alone, was greatly increased. However, the total amount of kafirin remained unchanged. Also, the kafirin was much less polymerised by disulphide bonding, and there was evidence of compensatory synthesis of other kafirin proteins. Hence, the mechanism for the increased protein digestibility of TG lines is probably related to their lower levels of disulphide-bonded kafirins, allowing better access of proteases. This work appears to confirm that disulphide bond formation in kafirin is responsible for the reduced protein digestibility of cooked sorghum. Since grain hardness is an important grain quality attribute, playing a major agronomic role, in sorghum processing and in the end-use quality of sorghum-based foods, further research should focus on transforming sorghum to have both improved protein nutritional quality and good grain endosperm texture. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Food Science / unrestricted

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo obter estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para escores de frame estimados por modelos propostos a partir da análise de dados de animais zebuínos (FRAME_GMA) e pelas equações propostas pela Federação Americana de Melhoramento de Gado de Corte (Beef Improvement Federation) (FRAME_BIF), bem como verificar as correlações entre escores de frame obtidos pelas duas metodologias e entre cada um dos escores e as variáveis independentes consideradas em avaliações genéticas de bovinos de corte da raça Nelore. Foram analisados dados de 12.728 animais provenientes de dois rebanhos da Agro-Pecuária CFM Ltda., com idades entre 490 a 610 dias. Os modelos de melhor ajuste para FRAME_GMA incluíram altura de garupa aos 18 meses, peso aos 18 meses e interação altura e peso. As estimativas de herdabilidade para FRAME_GMA e FRAME_BIF em análises uni-característica foram: 0,26 ± 0,03 e 0,23 ± 0,03, respectivamente; e, em análises bi-característica, essas estimativas foram 0,28 e 0,24, respectivamente. Os coeficientes de correlação fenotípica e genética de Pearson e de Spearman entre FRAME_GMA e FRAME_BIF para machos e fêmeas foram positivos e de alta magnitude, variando de 0,83 a 0,92. Os coeficientes de correlação fenotípica e genética entre cada escore de frame e as variáveis independentes altura de garupa, peso e idade na data da medida de altura foram sempre superiores para o FRAME_GMA em relação ao FRAME_BIF. Os parâmetros genéticos e os coeficientes de correlação indicam que o FRAME_GMA se adapta melhor ao conjunto de dados quando comparado ao FRAME_BIF. Outros estudos devem ser conduzidos para avaliar a aplicabilidade do modelo proposto a outras populações e em outras faixas etárias, bem como, estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para escores de frame na raça Nelore / This research was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for estimated frame scores for models proposed from the analysis of data of Nelore beef cattle (FRAME_GMA) and for the equations proposed by Beef Improvement Federation (FRAME_BIF), as well, to verify the correlations among frame scores obtained by the two methodologies and among each one of the scores and the independent variables considered in genetic evaluations of Nelore beef cattle. Data of 12,728 animals from Agro-Pecuária CFM Ltda. were analyzed, with ages between 490 and 610 days. The models of better adjustment for FRAME_GMA included hip height at 18 months, weight at 18 months and interaction height and weight. Estimates of heritability for FRAME_GMA and FRAME_BIF in single trait analysis were: 0.26 ± 0.03 and 0.23 ± 0.03, respectively; and, in mult trait analysis, these estimates were 0.28 and 0.24, respectively. The coefficients of phenotypic and genetic Pearson and Spearman correlations between FRAME_GMA and FRAME_BIF for males and females were positive and high magnitude, varying from 0.83 to 0.92. The coefficients of phenotypic and genetic correlation between each one of the frame scores and the independent variables hip height, weight and age at height measurement always went higher to FRAME_GMA than FRAME_BIF. The genetic parameters and the correlation coefficients indicate that FRAME_GMA was better than FRAME_BIF. Other studies were necessary to evaluate the applicability of the proposed model to other populations and in other age groups, as well, estimates of genetic parameters for frame scores in Nelore beef cattle

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo obter estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para escores de frame estimados por modelos propostos a partir da análise de dados de animais zebuínos (FRAME_GMA) e pelas equações propostas pela Federação Americana de Melhoramento de Gado de Corte (Beef Improvement Federation) (FRAME_BIF), bem como verificar as correlações entre escores de frame obtidos pelas duas metodologias e entre cada um dos escores e as variáveis independentes consideradas em avaliações genéticas de bovinos de corte da raça Nelore. Foram analisados dados de 12.728 animais provenientes de dois rebanhos da Agro-Pecuária CFM Ltda., com idades entre 490 a 610 dias. Os modelos de melhor ajuste para FRAME_GMA incluíram altura de garupa aos 18 meses, peso aos 18 meses e interação altura e peso. As estimativas de herdabilidade para FRAME_GMA e FRAME_BIF em análises uni-característica foram: 0,26 ± 0,03 e 0,23 ± 0,03, respectivamente; e, em análises bi-característica, essas estimativas foram 0,28 e 0,24, respectivamente. Os coeficientes de correlação fenotípica e genética de Pearson e de Spearman entre FRAME_GMA e FRAME_BIF para machos e fêmeas foram positivos e de alta magnitude, variando de 0,83 a 0,92. Os coeficientes de correlação fenotípica e genética entre cada escore de frame e as variáveis independentes altura de garupa, peso e idade na data da medida de altura foram sempre superiores para o FRAME_GMA em relação ao FRAME_BIF. Os parâmetros genéticos e os coeficientes de correlação indicam que o FRAME_GMA se adapta melhor ao conjunto de dados quando comparado ao FRAME_BIF. Outros estudos devem ser conduzidos para avaliar a aplicabilidade do modelo proposto a outras populações e em outras faixas etárias, bem como, estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para escores de frame na raça Nelore / This research was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for estimated frame scores for models proposed from the analysis of data of Nelore beef cattle (FRAME_GMA) and for the equations proposed by Beef Improvement Federation (FRAME_BIF), as well, to verify the correlations among frame scores obtained by the two methodologies and among each one of the scores and the independent variables considered in genetic evaluations of Nelore beef cattle. Data of 12,728 animals from Agro-Pecuária CFM Ltda. were analyzed, with ages between 490 and 610 days. The models of better adjustment for FRAME_GMA included hip height at 18 months, weight at 18 months and interaction height and weight. Estimates of heritability for FRAME_GMA and FRAME_BIF in single trait analysis were: 0.26 ± 0.03 and 0.23 ± 0.03, respectively; and, in mult trait analysis, these estimates were 0.28 and 0.24, respectively. The coefficients of phenotypic and genetic Pearson and Spearman correlations between FRAME_GMA and FRAME_BIF for males and females were positive and high magnitude, varying from 0.83 to 0.92. The coefficients of phenotypic and genetic correlation between each one of the frame scores and the independent variables hip height, weight and age at height measurement always went higher to FRAME_GMA than FRAME_BIF. The genetic parameters and the correlation coefficients indicate that FRAME_GMA was better than FRAME_BIF. Other studies were necessary to evaluate the applicability of the proposed model to other populations and in other age groups, as well, estimates of genetic parameters for frame scores in Nelore beef cattle

Simulation-based design optimization and finite element method are used in this research to investigate weight reduction of car body structures made of metallic and composite materials under different design criteria. Besides crashworthiness in full frontal, offset frontal, and side impact scenarios, vibration frequencies, static stiffness, and joint rigidity are also considered. Energy absorption at the component level is used to study the effectiveness of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite material with consideration of different failure criteria. A global-local design strategy is introduced and applied to multi-objective optimization of car body structures with CFRP components. Multiple example problems involving the analysis of full-vehicle crash and body-in-white models are used to examine the effect of material substitution and the choice of design criteria on weight reduction. The results of this study show that car body structures that are optimized for crashworthiness alone may not meet the vibration criterion. Moreover, optimized car body structures with CFRP components can be lighter with superior crashworthiness than the baseline and optimized metallic structures.

Ride and handling are important areas for safety and improved vehicle control during driving. To meet the demands on ride and handling a number of measures can be taken. This master thesis work has focused on the early design phase. At the early phases of design, the level of details is low and the design freedom is big. By introducing a tool to support the early vehicle body design, the potential of finding more efficient structures increases. In this study, topology optimization of a vehicle front structure has been performed using OptiStruct by Altair Engineering. The objective has been to find the optimal topology of beams and rods to achieve high stiffness of the front structure for improved ride and handling. Based on topology optimization a proposal for a beam layout in the front structure area has been identified. A vital part of the project has been to describe how to use topology optimization as a tool in the design process. During the project different approaches has been studied to come from a large design space to a low weight architecture based on a beam-like structure. The different approaches will be described and our experience and recommendations will be presented. Also the general result of a topology-optimized architecture for vehicle body stiffness will be presented.

M. Tech. (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology. / The purpose of this study was to develop a design synthesis approach that can be used to reach an optimal design solution (in terms of the strength, stiffness and weight) of automotive body structures during the conceptual stages of the design process. Two conceptual model variants; standard sedan and open-top unitary body structures that were made from the same platform were analysed for their maximum bending moment, stresses, deflections and their maximum load carrying capacity. Topology optimization was also undertaken in order to find a lightweight design of the body structures. The body structures were modelled using three different modelling techniques, namely; the simple beam model, the simple structural surface (SSS) method and the finite element (FE) method. The simple beam model was used to determine the axle reaction forces and the maximum bending moment of a body structure that was subjected to static and dynamic loading conditions. Dynamic load factors and an extra safety factor were used to simulate the dynamic bending loads. The factors were varied from 1.0 to 4.5 with a step of 0.5. It was found that the maximum bending moment under dynamic loading is simply a multiple of the static maximum bending moment and they both occur at a position that is close to the rear part of the front seats. The effects of different geometries on the strength, stiffness and the weight of body structures were studied using the finite element method. The two conceptual models were made into four different plane FE models with each concept having two different FE models. The panels of these models were constructed as simple structural surfaces and were based on the SSS analysis of the standard sedan. The models were subjected to bending and torsion load cases. Each load case was varied similarly for 19 different iterations until the yield point was reached for each FE model. It was also found that the load-displacement graphs were linear for loading within the elastic range, even if there are subassemblies that are missing. However, it was found that this relationship ceases to apply once the body structures are subjected to the torsion loads that are above the yield load. It was also found that the qualitative response to torsion loads was similar for all four body structures. However, the quantitative response was quite observable. It was found that the stiffness can be reduced by at least 37% by omitting subassemblies for the same platform and almost the same mass of the body structure. In addition, the effects of different materials on the strength, stiffness and the weight of body structures were also studied. It was found that lightweight designs can be achieved by using lightweight materials. However, both the bending and torsion stiffness were observed to be reduced or increased in proportion to the Young’s modulus or modulus of elasticity of the material that was used to construct the models. It was also noted that, the stiffness to weight ratio remained almost the same for the same models made from different materials. Topology optimization was undertaken in order to determine alternative load paths of the body structures. The two conceptual models were made into four different solid FE models. It was observed that the load paths remain similar for different volume fraction constraints for similar models under similar loading conditions. It was also noted that at least 20% in weight savings and at least 5% in torsion stiffness improvement can be achieved when topology optimization is used to determine the alternative load paths for a standard sedan model. Besides, the load carrying capacity was found to remain similar. However, the bending stiffness was noted to have reduced due to the reduction in the mass of the structure. In contrast, it was found that for an open-top model, both the bending and torsion stiffnesses were reduced in proportion to the reduction in the mass of the body structure. In addition, it was observed that a further reduction in the mass of the open-top body structure can also significantly reduce its load carrying capacity. Although the stiffness of the optimized open-top model was noted to have reduced due to the reduction in the mass of the structure. The stiffness to weight ratio of the optimized body structure was higher than that of the non-optimal structure.