Design and Analysis of Composite Structures for Automotive Applications

Chassis and Drivetrain

Vladimir Kobelev

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781119513865
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technologie et ingénierie
• Subtopic: Transport et ingénierie de l'automobile

A design reference for engineers developing composite components for automotive chassis, suspension, and drivetrain applications

This book provides a theoretical background for the development of elements of car suspensions. It begins with a description of the elastic-kinematics of the vehicle and closed form solutions for the vertical and lateral dynamics. It evaluates the vertical, lateral, and roll stiffness of the vehicle, and explains the necessity of the modelling of the vehicle stiffness. The composite materials for the suspension and powertrain design are discussed and their mechanical properties are provided. The book also looks at the basic principles for the design optimization using composite materials and mass reduction principles. Additionally, references and conclusions are presented in each chapter.

Design and Analysis of Composite Structures for Automotive Applications: Chassis and Drivetrain offers complete coverage of chassis components made of composite materials and covers elastokinematics and component compliances of vehicles. It looks at parts made of composite materials such as stabilizer bars, wheels, half-axes, springs, and semi-trail axles. The book also provides information on leaf spring assembly for motor vehicles and motor vehicle springs comprising composite materials.

• Covers the basic principles for the design optimization using composite materials and mass reduction principles
• Evaluates the vertical, lateral, and roll stiffness of the vehicle, and explains the modelling of the vehicle stiffness
• Discusses the composite materials for the suspension and powertrain design
• Features closed form solutions of problems for car dynamics explained in details and illustrated pictorially

Design and Analysis of Composite Structures for Automotive Applications: Chassis and Drivetrain is recommended primarily for engineers dealing with suspension design and development, and those who graduated from automotive or mechanical engineering courses in technical high school, or in other higher engineering schools.

1
Elastic Anisotropic Behavior of Composite Materials

1.1 Anisotropic Elasticity of Composite Materials

1.1.1 Fourth Rank Tensor Notation of Hooke's Law

Fiber composites consist of fibers with very high stiffness and strength that are embedded in a matrix of plastic. Fibers alone can absorb high tensile forces but cannot withstand bending or compression loads. In order to achieve a desired spectrum of properties that could not be achieved individually by each component, several material components are combined in a suitable form and spatial distribution. When plastics are combined with reinforcing materials, the aim is to achieve lightweight construction of highly stressed structural parts by increasing stiffness, hardness and strength. The main problem of material optimization lies in the inadequate or missing dependencies of such parameters as loading limit, fracture toughness and critical stress intensity factor from design variables (such as fiber diameter, fiber elasticity modulus and matrix and distance between fibers). The basic task is to obtain these dependencies in an analytical form.

The components of plastics can be relatively brittle (thermosetting reaction resins) or rather flexible (thermoplastics). Only through the combination of fibers and plastics and the firm connection of the plastic matrix to the fibers can high‐strength components, such as aircraft and vehicle parts, be produced. For material laws of fiber‐reinforced composites, the literature provides a broad knowledge base (e.g. Moser 1992; Chou 1990; Nettles 1994; Gibson 201...