AUIN International Symposium on Automotive Lightweight Successfully Held

“AUIN International Symposium on Automotive Lightweight” was successfully held in Yangzhou, China on September 20, 2020. At the beginning, the editor-in-chief of Automotive Innovation (AUIN) made an opening speech, and then the authors present their research results published in AUIN Special Issue on Automotive Lightweight. Finally, guest speakers from institute, OEM, parts enterprise, and university had a panel discussion. All speeches were in English. The conference attracted more than 2,200 audience including online and physical audience.

Prof. Mike Ma, the executive editor-in-chief of Automotive Innovation and vice president of FISITA, delivered an opening speech entitled “Trend of Automotive Lightweight”. He shared the lightweight roadmap and trend, including lightweight design driven by optimal performance, topological optimization, and multi-material design. According to Prof. Ma, lightweight design has evolved from explicit parametric design, structure-performance single-objective and multi-objective optimization to implicit parametric design, structure-material-performance multi-objective collaborative optimization.

Prof. A. Erman Tekkaya, professor of TU Dortmund University, delivered an online speech entitled “Damage in Metal Forming”. He introduced the manufacturing of lightweight components from three levels: material lightweight, structure lightweight, and system lightweight. The damage evolution in the forming process is analyzed. A new method to predict and improve mechanical properties (such as strength and residual stress) is proposed. He also proves the possibility of using forming technology to achieve system lightweight design.

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Prof. Junying Min from Tongji University shared his research: “Flexible Performance of Steel-FRP Composites for Automotive Applications”. First, he introduced the development of vehicle lightweight from multi-material car body to tailored property design. Then he illustrated the application of metal-FRP composites in the automotive industry. After analyzing the flexural performance of Steel-FRP composites, he concluded that steel-AFRP shows the best flexural performance.

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Dr. Shaoluo Wang from Hunan University presented the research of his team: “Effects of Standoff Distance on magnetic Pulse Welded Joints Between Aluminum and Steel Elements in Automobile Body”. He introduced the study on mechanical properties of magnetic pulse welding joints between aluminum and steel, and characterization of the microscopic interface of aluminum and steel magnetic pulse welding joints.

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Dr. Yunwu Ma from Osaka University gave an online speech, presenting the results of his paper: “Impact of Stack Orientation on Self-Piercing Driven and Friction Self-Piercing Driven Aluminum Alloy and Magnesium Alloy Joints”. He introduced the development of friction self-piercing riveting (F-SPR) process and application of F-SPR on automotive lightweight materials.

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Dr. Chong Xie from Jilin University presented the research of his team: “Multi-Objective Collaborative Optimization for the Lightweight Design of an Electric Bus Body Frame”. He illustrated the finite element modeling of bus rollover, conducted dynamic and static performance analyses, and finally gave a multi-objective collaborative optimization.

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Dr. Yong Sun from Deakin University gave a speech entitled “Forming-Induced Residual Stress and Material Properties of Roll-Formed High-Strength Steels”. He introduced the roll forming technology and its application in automotive field, and analyzed the effect of material deformation in the roll forming process on residual stress and the variation of material properties in particular PSE.

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In the Panel Discussion, Ms. Ning Zhang pointed out the main changes in the lightweight technology route in Energy-Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 2.0. She is the deputy secretary-general of China SAE, responsible for the roadmap of lightweight. Panelists in this session include Mr. Dong Xuefeng, general manager of China Automotive Lightweight Technology Research Institute, Prof. Mike Ma from Jilin University, Dr. Jianfeng Wang, president of General Motors China Research Institute, Dr. Li Sun, president of Novelis China Research Institute, and Dr. Hongzhou Lu, senior manager of CITIC Metal Group. There was a heated discussion around the Technology Roadmap and future development of lightweight technology.