Instilling confidence in composites

To move forward the integration of CFRP materials in primary structures, the same high level of confidence in passive safety design simulations for metallic structures needs to be achieved with composite designs.

Worldwide energy consumption is projected to increase by 53% between 2008 and 2035, with the demand for liquid fuels increasing more rapidly in the transportation sector than in any other end-use sector. Motivated also by initiatives to reduce the production of greenhouse gases, there is a clear move to make automobiles and other light vehicles more fuel efficient. Whether conveyed in the U.S. as improved fuel economy or in Europe as reduced tailpipe emissions, the entire automotive industry is moving in the direction of significantly improving fuel efficiency.

There is general recognition in the industry that powertrain innovations alone will not be sufficient to meet the required targets. Lightweight vehicle design is recognized as an important measure to reduce vehicle weight and gain fuel efficiency.