MW takes part in the Fatigue4Light project (Fatigue modelling and fast testing methodologies to optimise part design and to boost lightweight materials deployment in chassis parts) focused on the development of new tests and computer simulation methods to better estimate the fatigue life of chassis components and to select the optimal materials for lighter vehicle chassis.
The project, started in February 2021, will work for four years on the application of new materials tailored to the requirements of vehicle chassis, such as advanced high-strength steels, special automotive stainless steels, high-strength aluminium alloys and hybrid metal-fibre reinforced polymeric materials.
The goal is to reduce vehicle chassis weight compared to the current solutions, taking into account eco-design and circular economy aspects.
The project’s results will optimise the selection of new materials and reduce the implementation time between material development and the design of a new chassis part.
MW contributes to the Fatigue4Light project with selecting, producing and fatigue testing wheel demonstrators with current and new materials / technologies. The results will be used to assess the feasibility and the potential of the weight reduction and to correlate with the fatigue simulations. A final virtual demonstrator will be created to implement the project results.
“The Fatigue4Light project wants to help build a zero-emissions future by promoting design based on numerical simulation tools”, says Lucia Barbu, the project’s coordinator and a researcher at the International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE).
- The project’s objective is to optimise the selection of new materials and reduce the implementation time for these solutions
- The project innovation is expected to reduce vehicle chassis’ weight compared to existing solutions