Title: Dynamic testing of glass-fibre reinforced plastics for the design of bumper systems

Authors: K.-D. Johnke, H. Fehrecke

Addresses: Passenger Car Development, Volkswagenwerk AG, Wolfsburg, Federal Republic of Germany. ' Passenger Car Development, Volkswagenwerk AG, Wolfsburg, Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract: The current situation with regard to energy and raw materials is exercising a tangible influence on the use of plastics in European automotive engineering. New attitudes towards raw materials and energy emphasize the importance of plastics as the materials of the future. Plastomers, duromers and elastomers are being shown to be usable not only for body applications but also for exterior components of the car which are subjected to high mechanical stress. The extent to which lightweight construction can realistically be applied to bumper systems by using composite materials and the question as to whether or not these high polymers can make it possible to save enough energy to meet economic requirements are discussed here. In addition, the findings arising from the determination of deformation-related degrees of damage to glass-fibre reinforced plastics and their possible influence on the design of new bumper systems are discussed. Examples show how glass-fibre reinforced and glass-fibre mineral reinforced high-polymers, both compact and foamed, can be used effectively.

Keywords: bumper systems; damping; elasticity; glass-fibre reinforced plastics; GFRP; lightweight construction; noise reduction; vehicle design; vibration reduction; weight reduction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1985.061339

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1985 Vol.6 No.2, pp.199 - 215

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article