CAN COMPOSITE MATERIALS COMPETE IN VEHICLE TORSION MEMBERS?

Automotive components made from advanced composite materials result in significant weight savings over steel and aluminum. One of the problem areas is the application involving torsion members. Specifically those applications where torsional shear strength, shear fatigue, or shear strain are limiting factors. In automotive components this includes torsion bars, coil springs, and the shorter drive shafts. In this paper the strain limitations of advanced composites are compared to other materials and this effect demonstrated in the design of a torsion bar. A parametric analysis is shown which directly indicates when, for a particular application, advanced composite materials can or cannot be utilized.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared for SAE meeting 25-29 February 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Berg, K R
  • Pulmer, J
• Publication Date: 1980-2

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 8 p.
• Serial:
  • Society of Automotive Engineers Preprint
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automotive engineering; Bars (Building materials); Building materials; Composite materials; Fatigue (Mechanics); Motor vehicles; Physical properties; Shear strength; Torsion; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Torsion bars
• Old TRIS Terms: Torsion members
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Vehicles and Equipment; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00325213
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 800484
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 15 1981 12:00AM