The finite element technique of structural analysis, though well known, is not exploited to its full potential in the automobile industry. Although some limited static analyses are carried out on automobile structures using finite element methods, dynamic analyses are almost entirely limited to experimental test programmes on prototypes. It-was the aim of this. project to develop computer programmes capable of carrying out the dynamic analysis of automobile structures using the finite element approach, checking their accuracy at each stage of development by comparing computed predictions with experimental results obtained from specimen structures. Three programming techniques have been developed. The first is an accurate non-iterative method, the second an iterative technique and the third utilises a matrix reduction technique in conjunction with the non-iterative method. The first two methods are limited as to the size of structure with which they can cope. The third method can handle large structures, since the sizes of the stiffness and mass matrices involved are reduced prior to frequency evaluation. The problems of exciting experimentally the pure modes of a complex structure have been reviewed and a special purpose multi-point excitation apparatus has been evaluated and used with success in determining the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a chassis frame beam structure and a complex car underbody plate and beam shell structure.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:542072 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Anderson, Derrick Thomas |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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