Multi-Physics, Multi-scale Ground Vehicle Reliability Prediction

GP Technologies, Inc. proposes an innovative vehicle reliability approach for military vehicle that employs the most recent advances in engineering and numerical analysis software using high-performance computing. The proposed reliability approach uses a fast stochastic physics-based model simulation, including finite element and progressive damage models, that is integrated with refined stochastic response approximation techniques based on high-order stochastic field models. Bayesian framework is applied for handling modeling uncertainties, lack of data and stochastic model updating based on new evidence from test data or field observations. The proposed reliability approach includes the key multi-physics, including nonlinear behaviors and interactions between damage mechanisms, such low-cycle-fatigue-high-cycle fatigue and corrosion-fatigue interactions that can affect significantly predicted failure risks. Multi-scale aspects are integrated from the overall vehicle system behavior, to subsystem and component behavior, and down to very local material meso-scale fracture mechanics behavior. The proposed vehicle reliability approach bases on a fast stochastic finite element analysis technology that uses parallel graph-partitioning and parallel algebraic multi-grid gradient combined with gradient conjugate solvers. In Phase I, the proposed reliability approach will be demonstrated on the HMMWV front-wheel low-control arm subsystem. The effects of modeling uncertainties, due to finite element modeling and limited number of analysis runs will be also investigated.