Comparative analysis of topology optimization versus material substitution: Is there a best method for vehicle weight reduction?

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 13 focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Resource efficient production and strict emission regulations have made vehicle weight reduction a subject of great interest. Common lightweighting techniques include topology optimization and material substitution. The benefits include reduced raw material usage, low fuel consumption, and low carbon emissions. There is a gap in the complex balance of decision-making. If an engineer is faced with the option of topologically optimizing or materially substituting, is one method better than the other? This paper comparatively analyses these lightweight design strategies.