Vehicle aerodynamic shape significantly impacted by vehicle material composition and material circularity potential in life cycle energy optimal vehicle design

• This paper explores how the systemic-level energy consumption of light-duty vehicles could be reduced through integrative design. To this end, the Life Cycle Energy Optimisation (LCEO) methodology is used to achieve the coupled optimal use of materials (including their circularity potential) and vehicle aerodynamic shape to reduce the overall Life Cycle Energy (LCE) footprint of light-duty vehicles, with the results being compared to the lightweight and aerodynamic alternatives. Initially, the methodology is functionally expanded to handle aerodynamic functional requirements through the definition of a novel allocation strategy for the aerodynamic energy, and a parametrised simple vehicle body model that ensures that the LCE knock-on effects of aerodynamically-motivated design decisions are fully accounted for. Subsequently, the methodology is used to perform the first, to the knowledge of the authors, aero-structural LCE-driven design optimisation of a vehicle subsystem, with the impact of the materials’ circularity potential being taken into account through various end-of-life (EOL) processing scenarios, including recycling. The results show that the environmental footprint of light-duty vehicles could significantly be reduced through integrative early-stage design. Specifically, it shows that a life cycle energy optimal vehicle's aerodynamic shape is significantly impacted by the vehicle's material composition and the latter's EOL characteristics — particularly recycling potential. Furthermore, LCE optimal vehicles have been found to be on average longer, heavier and more aerodynamic than their lightweight counterparts, as well as offering up to 20% energy savings per vehicle; while also being shorter and lighter than optimal aerodynamic configurations.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Farkostteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Vehicle Engineering (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Teknisk mekanik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Applied Mechanics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Life cycle energy optimisation

vehicle design

aerodynamic drag

functional conflicts

circular design

recycling

Farkostteknik

Vehicle and Maritime Engineering

Optimeringslära och systemteori

Optimization and Systems Theory

SRA - Transport

SRA - Transport

Energiteknik

Energy Technology

Teknisk mekanik

Engineering Mechanics

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)