Optimum design of an air suspension seat using recent structural optimization techniques

Abstract

This article is on the optimum design of driver seats in commercial vehicles, which are expected to provide high comfort to drivers during long travel distances. This comfort is usually achieved through a pneumatic actuation and suspension motion that provides alignment with the road. Moreover, the seat which directly hosts the driver is supposed to ensure safety and best working conditions. The result is that seat weight increases considerably when all comfort, safety, and reliability features are incorporated. But, weight is an important factor in automotive transportation as it results in increased cost and also undesired emission values. For this reason, even the smallest reduction in the weight of commercial vehicles can lead to high amounts of savings. In this study, weight reduction and structural strengthening are targeted together with the help of topography optimization. Optimizations were made, and in these studies, the desired lightness and target strength levels were achieved. As a result of the study, optimization, weight reduction, strengthening, product performance, production cost and material cost outputs were considered and remodeled for better quality. An ECE R14 seat belt pulling test was simulated as an ultimate solution, and the expected results were obtained yet again. With the help of optimization and simulation tools, the appropriateness of the outcomes was assessed at the end of the study and found to achieve a 7 % reduction in weight and 13 mm displacement improvement.