The focus of Cost Competitive Light-weight materials is a significant and relative objective for Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers and Component Suppliers. The continued development of ultra-high strength materials to offer improved strength, durability, and mass reduction with a cost competitive position, is a primary emphasis within engineering activities globally.
This cost competitive light weighting focus has expanded significantly in all areas of commercial vehicle segments, impacting both powertrain and chassis applications. The focus is largely driven from the direct correlation of reduced vehicle mass to improved vehicle fuel efficiency, Co2 and Nox reduction, as well as safety and overall improvements to durability and performance. The primary challenge to determine the optimal lightweight material is multifaceted in effort to meet all imperative load criteria, while simultaneously providing mass savings in a globally scalable cost competitive solution.
The embodiment of this technical paper will address a comparative analysis of light-weight material options in both strength and cost unit values. Further reference will qualify the improved value performance of advanced ultra-high strength cast ductile iron materials; such as the SiboDur grades of material which intuitively provide both light-weight and cost competitive solution vs. the traditional non-ferrous cast aluminum materials.