Search Results

Automotive steering wheels, which play an important role as a human machine interface, are evolving over time with numerous integrations and innovations. Thermoplastic steering wheel, one of the innovations in recent times, offers significant reduction in mass along with part integration and styling flexibility and is an excellent replacement to traditional metal armature steering wheels. Typical steering wheels need to meet many performance requirements before they enter production. With the advancement of computational mechanics and increase in computational capabilities, it has become much easier to evaluate and optimize steering wheel performance in different ways. Instead of manufacturing and running prototype tests, steering wheel designs can be modeled and optimized virtually in various scenarios using standard finite element analysis technique, thus facilitating faster development cycle.

Automotive OEM's are looking for innovative material solutions that will help them to reduce weight, thereby reduce carbon footprint. One such emerging area to meet this objective is glazing, where traditionally glass is used as the material. Polycarbonate which is an engineering thermoplastic has the potential to replace glass, providing 30 to 40% of weight saving. Two shot injection compression process is primarily adopted for manufacture of these large complex polycarbonate-glazing panels, in order to reduce residual stresses and clamp force. This involves combination of two processes, first the injection compression of clear panel and second overmolding of black out portion with integral features. Prediction of deformation of these molded large panels is a critical parameter for successful replacement of glass. A novel prediction methodology to address this critical parameter is discussed along with comparison of results with experimentation.

Automotive steering wheel (SW) is generally manufactured with metal armature and polyurethane / polypropylene (PU / PP) overmolding. The metal armature is used to provide structural stiffness and strength while PU / PP foam gives shape, touch and feel. Developed market use cast Magnesium or Aluminum as armature material, however emerging markets use steel for armature construction. With additional requirements (airbag integration, functional integration, aesthetics, compact and light weigh) being added to steering wheel, the steering wheel design is becoming more and more complex in nature. Thermoplastic SW offers competitive stiffness, impact, ductility and chemical resistance characteristics needed for the global automotive markets. A thermoplastic SW had been developed from a unique recyclable polycarbonate.

As the pedestrian impact regulations are continuing to evolve, there is a growing emphasis on each and every component of a vehicle front to be pedestrian friendly. Traditionally pedestrian safety during an automotive impact is ensured through bumper, grill, fender and hood. However, the headlamp design was not under the same level of consideration as compared to other frontal components. To make pedestrian safety complete, the headlamp also needs to adhere to the pedestrian safety regulations. A novel energy absorber ring (EAR) concept was developed to make the headlamps pedestrian friendly. The proposed EAR concept was found to improve the pedestrian safety and low speed vehicle damageability performance. It was also observed that the proposed concept reduces the replacement and insurance cost.