Load cases for the global structure include the basic ones schematically described in the

Figure 3 (Duysinx, 2011). The analyses of the global structure will not however be the
object of further attention in this thesis. The work presented is concerned with the CCB,
12
CHAPTERby
2. STATE
OF THE ART:
ENGINEERING
and the
design of this component is constrained
boundary
conditions
that are
specified by the car manufacturer (pode-se chamar OEM???).

bending

torsion

Combined dending and torsion

Lateral load
Acceleration, braking
Figure 3 - Load cases for the global structure; source: Duysinx, 2011
Figure 2.3: Load cases for the global structure, [11].

construction
when compared
unibody design
in which
thin sheet
metalevolution,
parts formedfrom
by the
The basic
architecture
of the with
loadacarrying
structure
suffered
a great
stamping chassis
are joinedsupporting
along flangesanwith
spot welds located
at regular
intervals.
A spaceframe
independent
independent
bodywork
(body
on frame
construction
design
does
not
have
discrete
spot
welds
(which
are
a
source
of
discontinuity
between
mating
or BOF), to backbone tube as in the original Lotus Elan, tubular structures,
as in the
classic
Maserati
Birdcage,
up
to
the
integral,
new
type
of
body
construction,
parts) and the joints are structurally robust, contributing to the stiffness of the frame. However,called
bodytheframe
integral
(BFI).
matterrequires
is discussed
Deb, 2010,
attachment
of body
panels This
to the frame
extra effort by
and free-form
stylingmaking
can be the
distinction
the spaceframe
architecture
and tothe
unibody
unitized
or integral
difficultof
to achieve.
Large volume
production tends
be cheaper
and(i.e.
efficient
for unibody
vehiclesbody,
or monocoque).
while spaceframe-based body-in-white (BIW) may be more suitable for low to medium volume
production, with less initial investment on tooling as compared to stamping of a large number of

Quoting Deb, 2010, .. A spaceframe design consists of a three-dimensional grid of

body panels. . . ... Cars as the Audi A8 or the Lotus Elise have space frames.
components (predominantly extrusions and castings) with welded joints and is an
This matter of architecture and terminology is further clarified by Mallick, [20], in the

following quotation:
. . . ..The structure of most passenger vehicles has changed from the body-on-frame (BOF) construction to body-in-white (BIW) or unibody construction since the 1970s. The BIW construction