Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations

Zhu, Lihui; Hu, Zhiwei; Zheng, Xixia; Zhao, Xiangrui; Ye, Feng; Yu, Chunling; Chen, Zhenlei

doi:10.3390/machines14050566

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations

by

Lihui Zhu

¹,

Zhiwei Hu

¹,

Xixia Zheng

²,

Xiangrui Zhao

¹,

Feng Ye

³,

Chunling Yu

^1,* and

Zhenlei Chen

^1,*

¹

Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China

²

Changshan County Highway, Port, Shipping, and Transportation Management Center, Quzhou 324200, China

³

Fotile Group Ningbo Fotile Kitchenware Co., Ltd., Ningbo 315336, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Machines 2026, 14(5), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14050566

Submission received: 17 April 2026 / Revised: 14 May 2026 / Accepted: 14 May 2026 / Published: 19 May 2026

(This article belongs to the Section Machine Design and Theory)

Download

Browse Figures

Versions Notes

Abstract

To address structural redundancy and excessive vibration in a specific range hood model, this study focuses on structural lightweighting design optimization. Under strength and resonance avoidance constraints, optimization integrates experimental testing and finite element analysis. Modal analysis reveals a prominent resonance at 49.8 Hz, which coincides with the test results. Topography optimization of the impeller side plate ribs shifts its natural frequency, eliminating resonance while reducing weight significantly. Subsequently, topography optimization of key parts such as the fan housing improves stiffness, facilitating further lightweighting. Two optimization methods, direct solver and orthogonal experiment were applied to minimize the total mass under strength and dynamic constraints. Both schemes met all design requirements with weight reductions of 17.7% and 18.3%, respectively. Vibration test of the optimized design shows that accelerations at key points were reduced significantly.

Keywords: vibration reduction optimization; structural lightweight; direct solver and orthogonal experiment; structural optimization

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zhu, L.; Hu, Z.; Zheng, X.; Zhao, X.; Ye, F.; Yu, C.; Chen, Z. Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations. Machines 2026, 14, 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14050566

AMA Style

Zhu L, Hu Z, Zheng X, Zhao X, Ye F, Yu C, Chen Z. Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations. Machines. 2026; 14(5):566. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14050566

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhu, Lihui, Zhiwei Hu, Xixia Zheng, Xiangrui Zhao, Feng Ye, Chunling Yu, and Zhenlei Chen. 2026. "Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations" Machines 14, no. 5: 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14050566

APA Style

Zhu, L., Hu, Z., Zheng, X., Zhao, X., Ye, F., Yu, C., & Chen, Z. (2026). Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations. Machines, 14(5), 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14050566

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Menu

Optimization of Lightweight Design for a Certain Range Hood Model Under Strength and Vibration Limitations

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI