System Level Durability Engineering in CAE

This paper will discuss the vehicle chassis top down design approach that includes the nonlinearity and sub-system interactions such as tire and road, (left and right) interaction between two or more parts connected by bushings, springs, bolts, stabilizer-bar, etc... The proposed method called "sub-system analysis method" would allow for the inclusion of realistic boundary conditions and proper load simulation, and it would provide the ability to visualize and evaluate dynamic structural phenomena and complex component interaction. This approach would also facilitate the evaluation of design changes that may affect load propagation and/or load magnitude. All of the advantages of the sub-system analysis method mentioned above would allow for a greater understanding of the chassis sub-system as a whole and help correctly identify the design requirements needed for the individual components that make up such chassis sub-systems. This approach is of a holistic one and it is unified in a sense that it lends itself to system identification and optimization as a whole.