Monocoque, Automotive Bodies in Advanced Composites

In this paper, the development possibilities for all transport vehicles of the next millennium, employing monocoque and semi-monocoque bodies in advanced composites, is highlighted. The possible adoption of Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP) for such monocoque and semi-monocoque bodies is demonstrated through the lab developments of (i) a semi-monocoque shell and (ii) a vehicle panel in glass FRP in an Autoclave under vacuum bagging. The required shear flow calculations and Finite Element Analysis results, tabulated and plotted, as a case study for such monocoque shell construction concept, are presented in this paper for ready reference.