Weight Optimization of a Fuel Tank Base Plate

Weight optimization is an intelligent approach to create products in a sustainable and resource efficient way. The increasing focus on lightweight structures forces the designers to devise a product which should warrants required functionality and high stiffness to weight ratio. In order to meet these requirements, in addition to the reduction of design iterations, the use of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and simulation tools at early stages of that design process are unavoidable. In this study, the component to be optimized is the base plate of a cylindrical fuel tank, which should withstand the fluid pressure and weight in static conditions. Stiffeners are used in both axial and lateral directions. The size (thickness), orientation and quantity of these stiffeners are very crucial in order to meet the required constraints. The CAD software, Pro/Engineer, has been used for the 3D modelling, which is further linked with the finite element analysis software, ANSYS, for carrying out all the optimization iterations. Optimization results suggest significant weight reduction under applied load and boundary conditions.