In this paper is reported about the ULSAB (UltraLight Steel Auto Body) project. With ULSAB was achieved a significantly higher plane of intermaterial competition, one that recognises not only the needs of automotive costumers but also the requirements placed upon them by the car-buying public.The USLAB Phase II design process includes regularly scheduled computer generated crash test simulations for the purpose of assessing the vehicles safety characteristics. The proposed design has, at five separate stages in its development, been evaluated to ensure that changes made to the structure, whether for mass reduction or for manufacturing reasons, have not compromised its ability to clearly meet currently existing safety standards. The use of a variety of high strength steels enabled the structure engineers to provide excellent occupant protection despite the reduction in the vehicles mass. When it comes to recyclability, there is no doubt that steel is the engine that drives automotive recycling. The real key to the viability resides in steels affordability. That is, the potential for delivering value to costumer along with all of the other attributes. In the case of the USLAB body-in-white (aluminium alloy), the reduction in mass more than compensates for the increase in the per lb. price of the steel resulting from increased use of high strength grades. The project has moved from concept to reality, with project partners around the world fabricating parts to agreed-upon specifications for Phase II, the validation phase of the project to demonstrate a lightweight steel auto body structure that meets a wide range of safety, performance, and costumer satisfaction targets.
An ULSAB update
1997
7 Seiten, 1 Bild, 1 Tabelle
Conference paper
English
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