Potential impact of additive manufacturing and topology optimization inspired lightweight design on vehicle track performance—TSCHORN 2021

This research describes an interactive approach for examining the impact of additive manufacturing (AM) and topology optimization. The purpose is to find weight-saving potentials on a holistic vehicle level and evaluate the impact on vehicle performance through lap time savings. In a database are AM's lightweight use cases. Using a weight list, CAD data, and part relation analysis to project this database's weight reduction rates onto a sports car as a reference vehicle yields an overall weight saving potential. This research illustrates weight-saving potentials for each Bugatti Chiron technical section. Lap time simulations on the Nürburgring Nordschleife confirm the indicated weight saving potentials.

Tschorn, J.A., Fuchs, D. & Vietor, T. Potential impact of additive manufacturing and topology optimization inspired lightweight design on vehicle track performance. Int J Interact Des Manuf 15, 499–508 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-021-00777-x