John Kevin Krumbach

US Patent:

57294631, Mar 17, 1998

Filed:

Sep 1, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/522676

Inventors:

Gerhard Koenig - Birmingham MI
Robert Koehr - Mt. Clemens MI
Felix Kybart - Birmingham MI
Sigfried Walter - Leonberg, DE
John Catterall - Troy MI
John Krumbach - Plymouth MI
Rolf Heyll - Renningen, DE
Andrew Wolf - Parkland FL

Assignee:

ULSAB Trust - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

36446804

Abstract:

Method and system for designing and producing a lightweight automobile or vehicle body. Structural performance targets are selected, a beam model analysis is conducted, and a body-in-white design is developed. A shell model is created and analyzed and material gauges and manufacturing processes for the body components are selected. A structural analysis is conducted to determine whether the shell model meets the selected structural performance targets. A crash model is created, analyzed, and modified until satisfactory crash requirements are met. A final structural analysis is conducted to determine whether the shell model meets the selected structural performance targets.