Automotive Innovation ›› 2020, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (3): 280-295.doi: 10.1007/s42154-020-00109-x

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Flexural Performance of Steel–FRP Composites for Automotive Applications

Ye Lin1 • Junying Min1,2 • Hao Teng1 • Jianping Lin1 • Jiahao Hu1 • Nanjie Xu1   

  1. 1 School of Mechanical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
    2 Key Lab of Vehicle Aerodynamics and Vehicle Thermal Management Systems of Shanghai, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
  • Online:2020-09-07 Published:2020-09-07
  • Contact: Junying Min E-mail:Junying.Min@tongji.edu.cn

Abstract:

The design of hybrid structure offers an attractive solution to enhance strength and structural stiffness as well as to achieve lightweight effect and cost reduction. The applications of steel–FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) composites in transportation and civil engineering have been comprehensively reviewed. In order to apply hybrid structures to car body parts such as B-pillar, flexural performance of steel–FRP composites is investigated by means of three-point bending test in this study. An analytical model is deduced to calculate the initial stiffness, the bending load and the energy absorption of steel–FRP composites. Steel–CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) and steel–AFRP (aramid fiber-reinforced polymer) composites are experimentally studied and discussed. The results demonstrate that the steel–FRP composites exhibit significantly higher load-carrying capabilities and initial stiffnesses along with larger energy absorptions in the bending process compared to the single steel sheet.