Design and static structural analysis of engine hood using different materials

Abstract

The engine hood of an automobile plays a vital role in protecting engine components while ensuring the safety of passengers and pedestrians. It must strike a balance between providing easy access for maintenance and maintaining adequate rigidity under both operational and impact conditions. In recent years, the use of composite materials has gained considerable attention in the automotive and aerospace industries due to their lightweight, high strength, environmental sustainability, and superior mechanical properties. This study focuses on the design and static structural analysis of an engine hood, utilizing SolidWorks 2026 for design and ANSYS 16.0 for static structural analysis. Three materials Epoxy Carbon, CFRP, AISI 1080 were considered for the analysis. Key parameters such as total deformation, equivalent (von Mises) stress, and equivalent elastic strain were assessed to evaluate the performance of each material in real-world conditions. The results provide insights into the advantages and limitations of each material, offering a comparative view of their suitability for engine hood design in terms of strength, durability, and weight reduction