DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF AXI-SYMMETRIC AUTOMOTIVE RUBBER BUMPER USING ANSYS DESIGN EXPLORER

Abstract

Automotive rubber bumpers are energy-absorbing components within the bumper system in automobiles that support the energy absorption and impact mitigation for protection in the event of low-speed collisions. Although existing research examines rubber bumper shape optimization using various algorithms and numerical tools. This thesis aims to detail an end-to-end procedure; from initial model setup to the optimization of the shape of the rubber bumper using Ansys Design Explorer. The optimized model achieved a 19.5% increase in force reaction at the target displacement, meaning that the implemented workflow can serve as an efficient guide for the optimization process of rubber bumper designs toward predefined mechanical performance.The methodology provides a workable framework for future tasks involving hyperelastic components, adaptation of more complex load cases or advanced material models to simulate real world conditions more accurately can be considered for further refinement.