ARENA2036 – FRP Lightweight Design by Functional integration: Challenges concerning an integrative FRP floor module

Abstract

One of the main challenges in the automotive industry is vehicle structure weight reduction motivated by shrinking resources and rising environmental awareness. Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) with a load-oriented fiber design have a growing importance. Reasoned specific structure and fabrication process FRP offers excellent opportunities to integrate additional features in the structural component. Therefore, originally required components, for example sensors, can be integrated to generate secondary weight reduction potential. In order to focus existing competence in lightweight construction and production of the region Stuttgart the research campus ARENA2036 (Active Research Environment for the Next Generation of Automobiles) was set up on the site of the University of Stuttgart in 2013. The research program concentrates on forward-looking research projects in the field of Fiber-reinforced plastics. The start project, “Intelligent Lightweight Construction with Functional Integration” (LeiFu), forces the functionalization of FRP structures through a combination of improved existing and novel approaches. In particular, this project examines the integration of mechanical, thermal, electrical and sensory functions in a FRP floor module. For this purpose, the areas of suitability for mass production, costs, joining technology, functionalization, EMC, assembly, and reparability are challenges for appropriate alternative solutions.