About the Fordland Electric Vehicle Center project
The Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center (TEVC) is a Ford manufacturing facility near Stanton, Tennessee, that builds electric F-series vehicles. The facility is part of Ford's BlueOval City, a $5.6 billion campus that aims to create a new way of manufacturing vehicles and batteries.
IMEG was responsible for designing connections for the Fordland Electric Vehicle Center, a 1.2 million-square-foot facility requiring 7,500 tons of steel. With 1,000 unique truss configurations, the project required an approach that could handle complex geometries and varied load paths.
The challenge was managing the extensive number of unique truss connections while maintaining accuracy and efficiency. IMEG addressed this by using IDEA StatiCa to break down complex connections into clear and understandable models. The software allowed IMEG to check stress distribution, ensuring accurate load transfer and code compliance.
Unlike traditional connection design software, which often struggles with non-standard configurations, IDEA StatiCa provided IMEG with the flexibility to test various load path scenarios, including non-linear and eccentric loadings common in large truss systems. This level of detail was critical in preventing structural vulnerabilities and optimizing force distribution.
IDEA StatiCa is the only software that enables us to tackle non-standard steel connections, complex load paths and high-seismic applications with confidence. It is simply unmatched in its ability to design any type of steel connection in a fraction of the time that we would need with any other solution.
Todd R. Campbell, P.E.
Associate Principal/Quality Assurance Manager – IMEG
United States
