Door hinges play an important role in automobile design. They are part of the door retention component that holds the door in case of impact. These can become worn or damaged from wear and tear, which cause the door to sag. Door sag causes misalignment and can prevent the door from shutting correctly and lead to safety issues. Automotive companies have been performing door sag analyses for a long time now to optimize the door weight and the strength and weight of the hinge components.
We asked Preeti Verma, Solution Consultant with SIMULIA who developed this workflow, to provide answers to some common questions.
Q: Why does this workflow need to be analyzed?
A: The value that we look to deliver from this workflow is the ease of setup and use of our vertical application to democratize finite element analysis to engineering designers creating door hinge components. Typically, an analysis of this type requires higher skills and specialized training mainly because simulation tools are not easily navigated by engineering designers.
The traditional door sag analysis workflow has been created as a vertical application on 3DEXPERIENCE platform thanks to the out-of-the-box customization technology implemented by SIMULIA on the platform. Vertical applications of this kind, when used for complex body assembly problems, bring engineering work to a new level of usage.
Q: Describe the workflow.
A: This particular analysis is applicable to the Transportation & Mobility industry, but it can be extended to any industry with doors in their assemblies. The car door model contains the inner and outer sheetmetal panels, which are fastened using spotwelds, and the hinge components, which include the hinge parts and the hinge pin.
A load is applied on the door handle side to mimic the weight of a person pushing down on it. The geometry of the hinges is updated quickly, based on the stress results of the analysis, with the power of design parameterization and knowledgeware. The custom vertical application method allows to streamline the process of setting up the simulation model, guiding designers to gain new insights, and make for a time-saving tool for engineers.
Q: What are you trying to learn from this simulation?
A: The objective is to optimize the hinge components for weight and size so as to avoid excessive reinforcement while providing a safe design.
Q: Which SIMULIA solutions did you use?
A: The custom method app included in the Structural Analysis Engineer role. This role provides a broad environment to conduct structural static, thermal and dynamic response simulation of parts and assemblies within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It boosts innovation in product engineering and foster collaboration with all the stakeholders of the Product Development team in an intuitive environment using state-of-the art Abaqus simulation technology.
Discover all simulation roles for Designers and Product Engineers
Q: What were the advantages of using simulation?
A: Simulation brings a valuable tool into the design and engineering department for product brainstorming and boosting innovation. It helps designers visualize and understand the real-world product behavior and performance without extensive knowledge of FEA. Simulation helps detect potential flaws early in the design phase, and enables designers to size and compare their own design propositions. However, simulation tools are considered specialized and used mainly by simulation experts, keeping usage out of the hand of engineering designers.
With this workflow applied in a vertical application, the design of the door hinge components is quickly validated with the power of the platform reducing the design cycle time. Furthermore, it contributes to better understanding and collaboration between designers and simulation experts.
Want to see more?
Watch this video about the Structural Analysis Engineer role:
