Journal Published Online: 10 May 2019
Volume 8, Issue 3

Vehicular Light Weighting by Finite Element Simulation of E Glass–Based Composite Automotive Seat

CODEN: MPCACD

Abstract

The automobile industry has demonstrated itself to be one of the most quickly growing industries. However, the growth in the automotive industry has direct implications for fossil fuel reserves. The vigorously depleting fossil fuel reserves, the eminently increasing petroleum prices, the constant increase in pollution levels, and the hazardous effects of atmospheric environmental degradation are the driving forces for gravitation toward vehicular light weighting. The current article discuses the process of lightening the weight of front car seats, which is one of the most indispensable components of the automobile. This article demonstrates the feasibility of replacing metal automotive seats with E-Glass–based fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite automotive seats. Various types of investigations and comparative analyses, such as analysis for displacement, force, force-to-weight ratio, maximum and minimum stresses, and unit cost of fiber composites, are performed on the conventional car seat composed of steel alloy 4340 and that composed of FRP composites. It can be demonstrated from the various analyses that a substantial weight reduction of front car seat is obtained with respect to alloy steel when FRPs are used as substitutional materials. The weight of the steel alloy front car seat is reduced by 79.76 % with the utilization of carbon fiber composite as an alternative material, whereas the component weight was reduced by 57.27 and 70.31 % with the utilization of glass fiber composite and Kevlar materials, respectively. A cost analysis is also performed, and it is determined that the costs of carbon fiber composite, glass fiber composite, and Kevlar are quite a bit higher than that of alloy steel. The stress analysis for alloy steel and fiber composites exhibits that the maximum stresses of glass fiber composite, carbon fiber composite, and Kevlar are about 1.95, 2.96, and 2.40 times higher than alloy steel.

Author Information

Sinha, Medhavi
Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Amity School of Engineering & Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
Tyagi, R. K.
Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, Amity School of Engineering & Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
Pages: 20
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: MPC20180136
ISSN: 2379-1365
DOI: 10.1520/MPC20180136