Rediseño de chasis del Volkswagen Beetle mediante simulación estructural para su acople con la carrocería de Porsche 356.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to redesign the Volkswagen Beetle chassis using a structural approach that enables its adaptation to the Porsche 356 bodywork, ensuring geometric feasibility, mechanical strength, and structural safety within the field of automotive engineering. The methodology was based on computer-aided design (CAD) and structural simulation. Initially, a three-dimensional model of the chassis was developed in Autodesk Inventor using the original Volkswagen Beetle drawings, incorporating the necessary dimensional modifications to allow integration with the Porsche 356 bodywork. Subsequently, suspended and unsuspended loads were defined based on a specialized literature review, and static load analyses were performed using SimSolid and HyperMesh software, allowing evaluation of the mechanical behavior of the prototype under realistic operating conditions. The results showed that the redesigned chassis exhibited maximum deformations within acceptable ranges, without exceeding the elastic limit of the material. Furthermore, the displacement values obtained from SimSolid and HyperMesh demonstrated high consistency, consistently identifying the longitudinal member associated with the engine–transmission assembly as the most structurally stressed zone. This agreement between both software tools validates the reliability of the structural model and the applied methodology. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the designed prototype is both geometrically and structurally viable for coupling with the Porsche 356 bodywork, meeting the basic requirements for adaptation and anchoring. The originality and value of this work lie in the integration of CAD tools and advanced structural simulation as an accessible and replicable methodology for the redesign of automotive chassis in classic vehicle restoration and modification projects. This approach provides small automotive workshops with a reliable technical basis to optimize resources, reduce structural risks, and improve design quality, promoting a transition from empirical practices toward processes supported by predictive analysis.