Development of a Lightweight Car Body, Using Sandwich-design

At the Institute of Vehicle Concepts of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), a light vehicle concept is developed, with a body in white structure of only 90 kg and a high level of damage tolerance, in case of accidents. The structural concept is a consequent implementation of hybrid materials, resulting in a lightweight structure made of few parts with relatively simple shape. This is achieved by adapting materials and using a sandwich architecture for structural components. Especially structural foams and honey comb for cores in combination with metallic sheets are qualified. Hereby a high lightweight design potential is achieved and an overall concept of a weight optimized, multifunctional and highly integrated body in white structure is generated and analysed by using finite element method (FEM)- crash simulation. As a feasibility study of the design, a full size body in white demonstrator was built. Also, tests of several components are performed, in order to validate the simulation results. Future developments will result in the assembly of a roadworthy prototype with a fuel-cell drive-train, as well as crash testing of the entire body in white.

• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Institut Francais des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux (IFSTTAR)

  14-20 bd Newton, Cité Descartes, Champs su Marne
  77447 Marne la Vallée,   France  Cedex 2
• Authors:
  • Kriescher, Michael
  • Brückmann, Simon
  • Kopp, Gundolf
• Conference:
  • Transport Research Arena (TRA) 5th Conference: Transport Solutions from Research to Deployment
  • Location: Paris , France
  • Date: 2014-4-14 to 2014-4-17
• Publication Date: 2014-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 11p
• Monograph Title: Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Fuel cell vehicles; Light vehicles; Simulation; Vehicle components; Vehicle safety
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01529770
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: VTI, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 30 2014 9:44AM