Smart design of a high-performance seat frame for a luxury car

The design of mechanical components in recent years has been experiencing a series of innovative processes which, in addition to the classic methodologies, also support topological and structural optimization considering the product life cycle (LCA). These innovative aspects make it possible to reduce the weight of the components and the impact on the environment, both during production and during operation. The purpose of this work is to create a tool for the “intelligent design” of automotive components through optimization algorithms called “Smart Design”. The final intent is to create a multidisciplinary methodology for mechanical design that combines topological optimization techniques and product life cycle analysis. The single studies, from the creation of the CAD and the finite element analysis, up to the topological optimization and the LCA analysis, are managed by a single code generated in the Matlab® environment. The work is carried out in collaboration with Ferrari S.p.a.