Papers by Keyword: Automobile Component

Abstract: Mounting energy crisis, stringent emission law and strict safety rules have guided car manufacturers to improve strength/weight ratio of the vehicle, thereby promoting several applications of stainless steels in the car body. Moreover, use of stainless steels also improves aesthetics and minimizes life cycle cost. In automobiles, presently 45-50% of stainless steels are used in exhaust systems. To improve efficiency, complex designs are being used and performance criteria of the material are getting tougher. New techniques such as tube hydroforming are also being explored using austenitic stainless steel for the complicated designs utilizing the benefits of high ductility of these grades. Since corrosion resistance remains fundamental requirement for these applications, selection of grades and stabilizing elements are critical for such applications and depend primarily on operating conditions. Different grades and effect of their composition on elevated temperature strength, creep strength, endurance limit and corrosion resistance are presented. Stainless steels are also being used in other applications such as fuel tank, bumper, chassis for buses and trucks. With the development of new varieties of austenitic, ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, automotive industry is intensively exploring their potential.

Abstract: With the sharpness of market competition, the design of automobile outline becomes more and more important. By far, no systematic method can direct designers to carry out creative design orderly. In fact, most of the instances are created by designers’ cerebrum independently. The rise of the evolution computation provides us a new approach for conceptual creative design; therefore, it has become one of the most important techniques for computational and creative design. This paper pays more attention to the computer aided environment in the automobile outline design, proposes the automobile outline modularization design method and classifies component base into two categories. This method stores the data in the format of XML, which can save great memory and amount of rebuild component time.

Abstract: The main objective of this work was to introduce Reflexive Photoelasticity Technique in qualifying automotive components at Fiat Automoveis S.A in Brazil. Actual stresses were determined in a simple geometry plate and also in nodes of a body shell of a passenger vehicle by using reflexive photoelasticity methodology. Initially, tests were performed in welded steel plates submitted to traction loads. These plates were previously coated with birrefringent plastic material. External loads were applied through hydraulic MTS actuators. Stress and strain distribution in welded points neighboring areas using reflexive polariscope were quantitative determined. Simultaneously, these stress and strains acting on the welded plate were determined using strain gauges. The results from both experimental techniques (photoelasticity and strain gauges) were compared with those obtained from a numerical model using finite element method. The results were correlated and analyzed. Finally, reflexive photoelasticity technique was used to determine the stresses in nodes of a body shell of a passenger vehicle. Through this analysis it was possible to determine critical points in the structure with peak stresses.