Prototyping Lightweight Car Seat Structures Using Topology Optimization and Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing USA 2015)

This study deals with designing and prototyping lightweight car seat structures. For designing the car seat structures, we apply a density-based topology optimization method. For prototyping the topologically optimized car seat structures, we take an additive manufacturing approach by laser sintering using polyamide (PA2200) as the base material.

Date/place of birth: 11 June 1969 /Aichi, Japan Research fields: Topology optimization, Nonlinear dynamics Academic society: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME)

Award: JSME Design & Systems Achievement Award, 2014

Employment:

1995-present Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. (TCRDL) Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.

2001-2005 Ph.D. Student, Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. (on leave from TCRDL)

Degrees:

2005 Ph.D., Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Denmark.

1995 M.Sc., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan.

Company Name: TOYOTA CENTRAL R&D LABS., INC.

Chairman: Mitsuhisa Kato

Vice Chairman: Masahiko Miyaki

President: Noboru Kikuchi

Established: November, 1960

Capital: 3 billion yen

Number of Employees: 1,000

Location: 41-1, Yokomichi, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1192, Japan