Case Study: Feasibility of Magnesium for a Light-Weight Automotive Seat Frame Application
950423
02/01/1995
- Event
- Content
- The seating system in an automobile is one of the larger contributors to the overall vehicle mass, typically 10% to 15%. Consequently, OEM's and their seat system suppliers are focusing on seating system mass reductions. Johnson Controls, Inc., (JCI) is one such supplier that is committed to developing light-weight seat technology through alternative materials and enhanced designs.Over the last ten years JCI has developed light-weight seat concepts using carbon fiber, plastics, aluminum and magnesium materials as alternatives to steel. The project under study in this paper considers magnesium as a substitute for steel to achieve a lightweight seat for 1997 model year production.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine whether defined project objectives can be attained using magnesium as an appropriate material for a 1997, light-weight automotive seat project.Problem Statement
This research project assesses the feasibility of using magnesium, rather than steel, for a 1997, light-weight automotive seat frame application. The following questions will be addressed:-
1)
Can a steel seat frame be designed to meet the light weight seat system mass, cost and performance objectives?
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2)
Can a magnesium seat frame be designed to meet the light weight seat system mass, cost and performance objectives?
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3)
What are the business risks and benefits in developing magnesium as an alternative light weight seat frame material?
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4)
Should magnesium be selected as a frame material for the 1997, light weight seat program?
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1)
- Pages
- 15
- Citation
- Bartlett, T., "Case Study: Feasibility of Magnesium for a Light-Weight Automotive Seat Frame Application," SAE Technical Paper 950423, 1995, https://doi.org/10.4271/950423.