Graduate Education And Research In Lightweight Automotive Materials And Processes

In response to government regulations (e.g., CAFÉ for fuel economy), public awareness (e.g., crashworthiness) and intense market share competition, the automotive companies, both individually as well as jointly (e.g., PNGV), are developing technology in many different areas that may substantially change the industry in the next few years. One of these areas is the application of electronics in vehicular control and safety. Many of these electronic applications are already appearing in today’s vehicles. Another area, in which relatively quiet metamorphosis is taking place, is in automotive materials. The traditional material for making body and chassis components has been low carbon steel. The need for lighter weight automobiles (to improve fuel economy) has prompted automotive engineers to consider aluminum and magnesium alloys as well as fiber-reinforced polymers for many of these applications. To compete with these lightweight materials, the steel industry is also conducting research on making lightweight steel structures using high strength formable steels, hydroforming, tailored blank welding, etc.