REINFORCING AUTOMOTIVE ROOFS WITH COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Analysis of rollover accidents indicates that automotive roof structures are often unable to manage rollover impact energy well. Gross bending and the collapse of the roof pillars, headers and rails are common in these accidents. Most automotive roofs rely on formed sheet steel that is spot-welded together to provide rigidity and strength. The construction of these components often includes surface voids or holes that introduce stress risers and reduce the strength and load capacity of the structural members. These reductions translate into a roof with reduced crashworthiness when subjected to rollover forces. Test specimens representative of an automotive roof pillar were tested in four-point bending as described in a previous work by Lilley. A rectangular steel tube with a large surface void had a reduced peak resistance of 22% and reduced energy absorption capability of 43%. Several composite foams were analyzed as reinforcements to specimens with surface voids. The reinforcements increased peak forces by 432-603% and energy absorption by 897-1177%. A specimen with increased material thickness and a surface void increased peak force by 385% and energy absorption by 639%. The studies by Lilley achieved similar improvements with polyurethane foam. For the covering abstract see ITRD E109346.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1902856104
• Corporate Authors:

  ISATA-DUESSELDORF TRADE FAIR

  EPSOM HOUSE, 10C EAST STREET
  EPSOM, SURREY  United Kingdom  KT17 1HH
• Authors:
  • Herbst, B
  • CHNG, D
  • Meyer, S E
  • Forrest, S
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 93-6
• Serial:
  • SAFETY - CRASHWORTHINESS, MOBILITY, OCCUPANT SAFETY; AUTOMOTIVE INTERIORS - MATERIALS, ERGONOMICS, MANUFACTURING, ICE AND COMFORT, ISATA 2000, DUBLIN, IRELAND, 25-27 SEPTEMBER, 2000
  • Publisher: ISATA-DUESSELDORF TRADE FAIR

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Material reinforcement; Reinforcing materials; Vehicle roofs; Vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 3471: Reinforcement (in mater); 1367: Roof (veh); 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00812988
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 1-902856-10-4
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 2 2001 12:00AM