Design and Optimization of Control Arm in a Solar Car Using QFD

Abstract

Solar cars have been the up-and-rising trend. This technology represents the ideal solution for different challenges which have been a concern for different industries, leads to the contrast between contemporary mobility substitutes and the constant seek of sustainability. Given the multilayered nature grasped by this innovation, the fulfillment of an effective structure requests the improvement of each part of the vehicle, including its mechanics, which is the essence of this project. With their exceptional ability to play a critical role in the vehicle’s stability, the suspension system of the solar car, in particular the control arms, is comprehensively scrutinized throughout this project. The objective of this study is o design upper and lower control arms for a solar car using Quality Function Deployment and SolidWorks. Control arms are considered an essential part of a suspension system since it is the link between the chassis and the wheel hub. It also keeps the wheel in contact with the surface at all times and provides the vehicle with the mobility to adapt to uneven surfaces. Therefore, using engineering problem-solving methods, control arms were designed, analyzed, and optimized. However, throughout this report, the process undertaken to achieve those results will be the main point of focus and will be explained thoroughly. The factor of safety (FOS) for the optimum design was 3.4, showing the feasibility of the selected tools such as Quality Function Deployment (QFD) for the chosen engineering problem to determine the optimum solution.