Special features of determining the loads on the passenger car frame with closed center sill.

This paper aims at an improvement in the frame of a passenger car for its higher efficiency. A special feature of this improvement is the closed configuration of the center sill that can be formed with sheets. The mass of the center sill can be minimized through its optimization with linear programming. The results of the calculation demonstrated that the mass of the frame in terms of the solutions proposed was 1.7% lower than that of the standard structure. The paper presents the results of the strength calculation of the frame of a passenger car at main loading modes. It was established that the strength of the frame at the schemes of loading studied was ensured. The motion of the improved frame of a car was estimated with the vertical accelerations on the frame. The motion was estimated as excellent. The research also included the modal analysis of the frame of a passenger car. The research can be used by those who are involved in the design of the bearing structure of a passenger car with better technical and operational characteristics that can increase the operational efficiency of passenger cars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]