Design and Analysis of Composite Structures for Automotive Applications

Series Preface

Fuel efficiency continues to “drive” significant research and development in the automotive sector. In many instances, this is propelled by regulations that target reduced emissions as well as reduced fuel consumption. Even with more efficient vehicles and electric hybrid or purely electric driven systems, the need for reduced energy consumption is demanded by the market. This is due to the fact that the customer base is demanding increased efficiency as this brings better performance, lower costs and extended range of the vehicle. One clear means by which fuel efficiency can be enhanced is by reducing the weight of the vehicle. Lightweighting can be accomplished by a number of means, one of which is lighter weight material substitution. That is to say, one may substitute a lighter material for a heavier one on a vehicle component. Composites have been used to replace metal components in efforts to lightweight aircraft for decades. More recently, advances in materials, manufacture, and design have made composites cost effective and viable in the automotive sector. Two major stumbling blocks that have hindered composite use in the automotive sector are the cost of the composite components, and the ability to rapidly and economically produce such components in quantities that are needed by the automotive sector. Recently, these stumbling blocks have been overcome. However, for most commercial automotive applications, composites remain relegated to less critical elements ...