Evaluation of torsional rigidity of frame for electric Eco-Vehicle: Deformation behavior of light thin shell structure subjected to torsion and bending

The frame of the electric Eco-Vehicle is required to be as light as possible and to have enough room for many batteries. The frame assembled with thin aluminium plate instead of solid is thought to be advantageous. In this study, torsion tests and the finite element method calculation of a structure unit for Eco-Vehicle were conducted. The torsional deformation of thin shell structure was found to be explained by the theory of the bending of a thin plate rather than that of the pure torsion of a beam. Some examples of the optimized models of reinforced frame were also shown.