Volume 11 - Volume 11
Reducing Weight of Freight Bogie Bolster Using Topology Optimization
Abstract
Nowadays, the weight minimization of a structure without affecting the initial performance is a
challenging issue for design engineers. Weight reduction approaches such as topological
optimization provide a solution to determining the optimal shape of a structure without
compromising the intended performance and required functionality. For most of the structures,
topology optimization problems have been formulated to either minimize the compliance or weight of
a structure under volume or stress constraints, respectively subjected to the certain boundary and
loading conditions. In the present work, the optimization is performed by minimizing the compliance,
subjected to a volume constraint, results in weight-saving of the railway freight bogie bolster without
affecting the strength. A penalization scheme, SIMP (Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization)
method is used to determine the optimum distribution of material, and void has been incorporated in
the initial design. Topology optimization run performed on the initial design and results suggest mass
reduction from chosen design space. The initial freight bogie bolster design is modified resulting in
an approximate weight reduction of about 6.23%. Stress and deformation study performed by the
FEA tool on the modified design of bolster justifies the optimization work. The modal analysis
confirms the interchangeability of the designs.
Paper Details
PaperID: 1941
Author's Name: Prashant Kumar Srivastava, Simant and Sanjay Shukla
Volume: Volume 11
Issues: Volume 11
Keywords: Freight Bogie Bogie Bolster, Structural Compliance, Topology Optimization, Von-mises Stresses, Weight Reduction.
Year: 2021
Month: May
Pages: 324-339