Composites - Articles - Page 3

New Materials, New Fasteners

As automakers replace steel with lightweight materials, new fasteners will replace conventional screws.

June 11, 2021

Steel has been, is now, and will continue to be the predominant material for vehicle structures and body parts, such as doors, hoods, liftgates and fenders. But, other materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, plastics and composites, are becoming increasingly important.

European Consortium to Develop Lightweight Composites

March 10, 2021

LONDON—A new consortium called ASCEND (Aerospace and Automotive Supply Chain Enabled Development) has been established to accelerate composite material technologies used in next-generation vehicles.

Lightweight Composite R&D Project Aims to Reduce EV Weight

January 29, 2021

WHITLEY, England—Jaguar Land Rover is preparing for future electric vehicles by investing in advanced lightweight composite research to increase range and boost performance.

New Developments in Self-Pierce Riveting

New technology incorporates the advantages of self-pierce riveting while overcoming its limitations.

John Sprovieri

January 6, 2021

Self-pierce riveting (SPR) is a cold joining process for fastening two or more sheets of material by driving a rivet through the top sheets and upsetting it, under the influence of a die, into the bottom sheet without breaking through it.

Swedish Research Facility to Focus on Sustainable Composite Manufacturing

December 16, 2020

PITEA, Sweden—The research institute RISE is building a facility here that will focus on testing sustainable composite manufacturing. Its key piece of equipment is an AP&T servohydraulic press.

German Engineers Develop Lightweight Battery Pack

November 24, 2020

DARMSTADT, Germany—Engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability have developed a lightweight battery pack made out of carbon-fiber composites that weighs 40 percent less than traditional aluminum enclosures.

Laser Efficiently Drills Rivet Holes in Composites

Jim Camillo

October 13, 2020

Drilling rivet holes in composite materials has been a challenge for many years. Traditionally, using standard tools has resulted in rapid tool wear and material damage, including integrity, surface quality and delamination.

High-Speed Rail Demands Light Railcars

Carbon-fiber composite is on track for big growth in the rail sector

Austin Weber

June 9, 2020

Automotive and aerospace manufacturers have been at the forefront of the lightweighting trend for some time now. But, they're not the only ones. The railway industry could also benefit from the use of new, lightweight structural materials.

With Composite Panels, Chinese-Made Buses Reduce Emissions in Finland

Jim Camillo

March 10, 2020

Countries around the world share a common goal of reducing carbon emissions. Finland, for example, aims to reduce its level of emissions by 5 percent (5 million kilograms) each year by investing in green technology for public transportation.

Aeroelastic Wings Could Make Future Aircraft More Efficient

Austin Weber

March 4, 2020

Aerospace engineers around the world have been searching for new ways to make aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient. Aeroelastic wings may be the answer.