Joining Composite Chassis Components on Heavy Trucks
Class 8 trucks offer substantial opportunities for weight reduction with cost incentives resulting from increased payload and improved fuel efficiency. The chassis, suspension, drive train, and wheels contribute to approximately 40% of the truck weight and have components that are excellent candidates, in terms of material performance requirements, for replacement with low-density structural composite materials. However, actual or perceived deficiencies in joint reliability have, up to now, limited the use of polymer composites in this application. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have begun a project to overcome the major technical issues associated with joining thick fiber reinforced composite sections. The main objective is to develop both economical and robust attachment techniques for composite members joined to steel members. The research will be coordinated with an industry team led by Delphi Corporation that is developing and commercializing composite chassis members through funding from the Department of Energy's (DOE’s) High Strength Weight Reduction Materials Program, under the Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 961703
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-39576; VT0502020; TRN: US200923%%239
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3rd Annual SPE Automotive Composites Conference, September 9-10, 2003, Troy, Michigan, 4 pages
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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