With the rapid advancement of future mobility technologies, the emergence and widespread adoption of PBVs (Purpose Built Vehicle), SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles), electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles are prompting in vehicle body structure des...
With the rapid advancement of future mobility technologies, the emergence and widespread adoption of PBVs (Purpose Built Vehicle), SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles), electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles are prompting in vehicle body structure design. Electric vehicles require lightweight and high-stiffness structural solutions due to increased vehicle mass from battery integration and the consolidation of underbody components. SDVs also demand platform flexibility and structural integration, thereby shifting the conventional design approach away from that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Furthermore, the continuous reinforcement of global vehicle safety regulations, such as Euro NCAP and IIHS standards, has increased the importance of rapid and proactive structural evaluation at the concept-phase design. However, traditional finite element analysis (FEA)-based development processes involve significant time and cost for CAD modeling, preprocessing, and simulation setup, limiting their efficiency in concept-phase design reviews. To address these challenges, this study proposes a simplified analytic model that reflects vehicle safety test conditions by representing the side frame structure as a 2D frame model based on 1D beam elements. The model calculates cross-sectional properties based on actual vehicle geometry and material properties, enabling quick prediction of structural responses. Through comparative validation against multi-level FEA results, the proposed model demonstrates consistency and applicability, suggesting its potential as an effective tool for automating structural design and improving review efficiency in the concept-phase of vehicle body development.