FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTICS AS LOAD BEARING COMPONENTS OF THE CAR BODY

FASERVERSTAERKTE KUNSTOFFE ALS TRAGENDE STRUKTURTEILE DER KAROSSERIE

The use of fibre reinforced plastics for car components was compared with that of sheet steel as regards rigidity, strength, density and modulus of elaticity with a view to reducing weight. Details are given of several projects incorporating the use of plastic materials. (1) Audi experimental car incorporating a new design concept of the car body floor unit. Impact tests were carried out on vehicles with a plastic floor and a steel floor. (2) use of fibre reinforced plastics in the Audi sport-guattro. Results of comparative tests conducted on cars fitted with steel and plastic components (bonnet, bumper apron, mounting of locking bolts) show the advantages of plastic materials as regards mechanical properties, ease of component shaping, cost and speed of manufacture. (3) boot compartment -spare wheel well in the Audi 100-200 Avant. Attention is drawn to the need for quality control tests on the raw materials, semi -finished products and manufacturing process. This report was first published in German in "Kunststoff-Einsatz im Automobilbau", VDI-Gesellschaft Kunststofftechnik, Duesseldorf, 1984, 1-39. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Haldenwanger, H
  • Schaeper, S
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 45 p.
• Serial:
  • TRRL TRANSLATION
  • Issue Number: 3140
  • Publisher: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Costs; Crash tests; Density; Fibers; Manufactures; Material reinforcement; Modulus of elasticity; Motor vehicle bodies; Organizations; Plastics; Quality control; Reinforced plastics; Reinforcing materials; Stiffness; Strength of materials; Surveillance; Translations; Vehicle components; Vehicle tests; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases; Quality; Use
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile bodies; Weight reduction
• ITRD Terms: 1356: Body (car); 1243: Car; 1354: Components of the vehicle; 224: Cost; 9009: Decrease; 5908: Density; 4557: Fibre; 8125: Germany; 1648: Impact test (crash); 3647: Manufacture; 5919: Modulus of elasticity; 9057: Organization (association); 7454: Plastic material; 9063: Quality; 3471: Reinforcement (in mater); 5931: Stiffness; 5544: Strength (mater); 9101: Surveillance; 8538: Translation; 9084: Use; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00392734
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 29 1985 12:00AM