Lightweight Design of Front Suspension Upright of Electric Formula Car Based on Topology Optimization Method

Abstract

In order to obtain a lightweight front upright of an electric formula car’s suspension, the topology optimization method is used in the front upright structure design. The mathematical model of the lightweight optimization design is constructed, and the geometric model of the initial design of the front upright is subjected to the ultimate load condition. The structural optimization of a front upright resulted in the mass reduction of the upright by 60.43%. The optimized model was simulated and verified regarding the strength, stiffness, and safety factor under three different conditions, namely turning braking, emergency braking, and sharp turning. In the experiment, the uprights were machined and assembled and integrated into the racing suspension. The experimental results showed that the optimized front uprights met the requirements of performance.