Structural-acoustic Design of a Multi-functional Sandwich Panel in an Automotive Context

This article deals with the design and weight optimization of a multi-functional vehicle body panel in an automotive context. An existing vehicle design has provided functional design requirements regarding static, dynamic, and acoustic behavior of the components of a car roof. A novel, multifunctional panel is proposed which integrates the component requirements present in a traditional roof system within a single module. The acoustic properties of two configurations of the novel panel are examined using numerical methods including advanced poro-elastic modeling tools compatible with Nastran, and compared with numerical results of a finite element model of the existing construction.