Brake pedal topology optimization for Shell-Eco Marathon car prototype.

Abstract Shell Eco-marathon is one of the world’s leading energy efficiency engineering programs for students. Reducing the weight and therefore the energy consumption of the vehicle is one way to increase its efficiency. A variety of weight reduction strategies are adopted by automakers, such as the use of lightweight materials, optimizing existing designs and the use of modern software programs. Topology optimization simulation is an example of a modern method used to optimize the material allocation within a domain, by fulfilling predefined constraints. The aim of this paper is to investigate the load on the brake pedal of a Shell Eco-marathon Prototype car and to reduce its weight using SolidWorks Optimization Simulation.