Title: Implementation of composite and recyclable thermoplastic materials for automotive bumper subsystem

Authors: Giovanni Belingardi; Ermias Gebrekidan Koricho; Brunetto Martorana

Addresses: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica ed Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24 – 10129 Torino, Italy; IMAST S.c.ar.l. – Technological District on Engineering of Polymeric and Composite Materials and Structures, P.zza Bovio 22, 80133 Napoli, Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica ed Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24 – 10129 Torino, Italy; Composite Vehicle Research Center, Michigan State University, 2727 Alliance Drive, Lansing, MI 48910, USA ' Centro Ricerche Fiat – Strada Torino 50, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy

Abstract: In order to meet the current targets not only in terms of safety, but also in terms of lightweight that means lower polluting gas emissions and fuel consumption, for a newly developed vehicle it is necessary to perform a number of component based tests. This kind of experimental test is time consuming and very expensive. Therefore, it is recommended to develop cost effective design methodology and analysis using existing finite element methods in order to evaluate the performance of different design solutions under various loading, material and environmental conditions, from the earliest stages of the design activity. This paper intends to address such design aspects and method of analysis with particular reference to the application of composite and recyclable thermoplastic materials to automotive front bumper design. Major constraints that have been dealt with are bumper crash resistance, absorbed energy and stiffness with particular reference to the existing bumper standards. Finally, the results predicted by the finite element analysis are evaluated and interpreted to examine the effectiveness of the proposed solution.

Keywords: automotive composites; recyclable thermoplastics; front bumpers; bumper subsystems; carbon fibre reinforced plastic; CFRP; glass mat thermoplastic; GMT; stiffness; stacking sequence; impact; low velocity; lighweight vehicles; vehicle safety; finite element method; FEM; vehicle design; crash resistance; absorbed energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAUTOC.2014.064128

International Journal of Automotive Composites, 2014 Vol.1 No.1, pp.67 - 89

Received: 14 Jun 2013
Accepted: 26 Sep 2013
Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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