Structures for Transportation

Study for packaging of high-pressure vessels in aluminium CFK construction method

Terrestrial vehicles, like passenger cars, trucks and rail vehicles, show a big group of application possibilities of fiber reinforced composites. The necessity of the big series suitability with low price, high specific component achievement and low weight are to be realized in a structure. In this connection short fiber or long fiber reinforced composites in combination with continuous fiber reinforced composites become interesting. Application are found essentially in the area of high-pressure systems, crash elements and car body parts.

With the demand for light and cost effective structures in the area of transportation technology new construction methods are to be developed. The experience shows that a spin off from aviation does not support the requirements of the car industry in practice. The knowledge about modern high-capacity materials must be used to develop structures capable for cars with new plastics and fiber-reinforced materials in terrestrial applications. Besides, in particular monomer-infiltration procedures which allow the quick polymerization to fiber reinforced thermoplastics and with recycle able structures on the base of resin infiltration with thermo sculptural source materials into fiber scaffolding are to be found. Combined with press techniques and short fiber injection technology big series suited quick manufacturing processes could be shown with regard to economic manufacturing cycles.

Activities to the conversion of the construction methods which could lead to the development of new vehicle concepts are worked out together with the Institute of Vehicle Concepts in Stuttgart.