Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Elastomeric Mounting Systems in Automotive Vehicles

In this paper, a design optimization problem with multidisciplinary objectives is considered for a general purpose elastomeric mounting system (EMS). The multidisciplinary design objectives include quasi-static, dynamic and stability targets. Elastic stability of the EMS is investigated for the first time with the development of a general formulation that determines the critical buckling force and buckling mode of the system. Optimization is then performed to maximize the critical buckling force. The major contributions of this work include a systematic approach for the multidisciplinary design optimization of EMS and the stability analysis and optimization. The approach developed in this paper can be applied to a wide range of EMS design problems including body mounting system and powertrain mounting system. Reliability assessment of the optimum design is also conducted in order to consider uncertainties of the system parameters due to the manufacturing and assembling variations. Design optimization of a real vessel-mounting system in an innovative concept vehicle is used as an example to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach developed.