Title: New materials and automotive design

Authors: H. Girardy

Addresses: Plastics Engineer, Plastics Development Department, Advanced Studies Service, Peugeot, S.A., France

Abstract: Since the oil crises of the 1970s it has become vital for the automotive industry to improve thermodynamic efficiency and motion transmission, to reduce friction losses, to strengthen research into aerodynamics, and to reduce the weight of vehicles. All these factors lead to innovation in vehicle design, and hitherto unknown materials and shapes become commonplace. This paper endeavours to define the challenge new materials pose to car makers and to outline the advantages and drawbacks of their use.

Keywords: aerodynamics; fuel efficiency; future trends; new materials; vehicle design; weight reduction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1984.061331

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1984 Vol.5 No.3, pp.358 - 363

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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