Handling-Force Software : Calculation software for tailgate and bonnet in concept stages

Sammanfattning: Abstract This report focuses on the creation of a software to calculate handling forces of bonnet and tailgate. The handling force is the force required by a user to open or close a tailgate. It is a bachelor thesis conducted for Karlstad’s university. The work is conducted at CEVT in Gothenburg, the software will be used to improve workflow in early design phases. The resulting software from this project is easy to use and shows good resemblance to the reference values, which is old calculations done by a manufacturer. Comparing to manufacturer calculation the software shows only small deviations in results. The software is deemed to be an asset in the development work at CEVT. The software is also easy to use and have been tested by employees, whom could operate the software easily without instructions. It is based on regular equilibrium equations and the software structure is logical and easy to follow, to make it simple to maintain and develop the software if the need would arise. The finished software calculates single pivot hinges and four bar mechanism-based hinges equipped with gas springs. It also has the possibility to work with tailgate and bonnet simultaneously to keep one project in one file. The work has focused on, creating the software, user interfaces and kinematics/kinetics of different types of hinges, with support from both literature and reports. This led to a software built in Microsoft Excel, which was chosen due to its standard features for graphical display of data. Building the software in Excel also makes it accessible to all employees who wishes to use it. The conclusion is that the software could in extension lead to higher quality on finished products by allowing more tested configurations and continuous changes during the design process.