A lightweight trailer is not created by lightweight material alone, but by using material in the right place and the right section. Finite element analysis (FEA) makes the stress and deformation distribution across the chassis visible in a virtual environment, allowing these decisions to be made by calculation rather than trial and error.
How Does the Optimisation Process Work?
- Load cases are defined: static load, braking, cornering, ramp torsion and road impacts
- The chassis geometry is meshed into elements and a stress map is produced
- Topology and section optimisation removes material from low-stress zones
- Fatigue life is separately verified through critical weld details
- The model is calibrated with strain gauge measurements on a prototype
Balancing Lightweighting with Stability
While reducing weight, the vehicle's rollover and sway behaviour cannot be ignored; especially on tankers carrying liquid cargo, the centre of gravity and compartment design directly affect roll stability. Model optimisation studies in the literature show that structural lightweighting and driving stability must be addressed within the same calculation loop. The result: a more predictable, safer vehicle with less material.
References
- Yu, D. & Chu, J. (2019). Study on roll-stability model optimization for partially filled tanker trucks. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 11(4). DOI: 10.1177/1687814019837805