The research project demonstrating the Caltech Method of Imprecision (MoI) on a passenger vehicle structural design problem for VW is proceeding well. We have built a computer Solid Model (using SDRC/Ideas) of a VW Rabbit, and are building a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model from the Solid Model. We have performed a series of experiments on a (used, junked, and stripped) 1980 Rabbit Body-in-White (BiW), collecting bending and torsional stiffness data. This data will be used to calibrate the FEA model. Finally the MoI will be "wrapped" around the FEA model to permit imprecise fuzzy set-based design exploration.
A Report describing the demonstration project in Portable Document Format (PDF). (314k)
Several photographs of the BiW loading experiments are available below.
