This book is focused on the use of plastics in automobiles for traditional applications, as well as for more advanced uses such as under-the-hood components. Engineering thermoplastics offer the ability to tailor-make components from polymers, and to design parts for enhanced performance, new functionality, part integration, and elimination of secondary operations. Parts made from engineering thermoplastics can be manufactured within specified cost constraints, and using manufacturing methods that offer a wide range of production flexibility. A decade of research and real-world applications is presented by the authors on application technology development for various aspects of automotive design – concept design, CAD modeling, predictive engineering methods through CAE, manufacturing method simulation, and prototype and tool making. Additional advantages of plastics are covered and include greater styling, improved energy absorption, and enhanced performance over traditional materials, all while fostering environmental sustainability and reducing overall vehicle weight for next generation automobiles.

The automotive sector is looking for lighter-weight materials for improved fuel economy and post-consumer recyclability to foster environmental sustainability. Engineering thermoplastics offer the ability to tailor-make components from polymers, and to design parts for enhanced performance, new functionality, part integration, and elimination of secondary operations. Parts made from engineering thermoplastics can be manufactured within specified cost constraints, and using manufacturing methods that offer a wide range of production flexibility. Additionally, plastics offer greater styling, improved energy absorption for pedestrian and occupant safety, and enhanced performance over traditional materials, all while reducing overall vehicle weight. This book is focused on the use of plastics in automobiles, not just for traditional applications such as interiors and body panels, but for more advanced uses such as under-the-hood components. It provides application technology development for various aspects of automotive design-concept design, CAD modeling, predictive engineering methods through CAE, manufacturing method simulation, and prototype and tool making.

Automotive manufacturers are required to decrease CO2 emissions and increase fuel economy while assuring driver comfort and safety. In recent years, there has been rapid development in the application of lightweight and sustainable materials in the automotive industry to help meet these criteria. This book provides critical reviews and the latest research results of various lightweight and sustainable materials in automotive applications. It discusses current applications and future trends of lightweight materials in the automotive area. While there are a few books published mainly focusing on automotive applications of metallic lightweight materials, to date there is no available book focusing on a broad spectrum of lightweight materials, including metal, plastic, composites, bio-fiber, bio-polymer, carbon fiber, glass fiber, nanomaterials, rubber materials, and foaming materials, as this work does. The book also includes case studies of commercial lightweight automotive parts from sustainable lightweight materials, providing an invaluable resource to those involved in this in-demand research and commercialization area.

Composites are now extensively used in applications where outstanding mechanical properties are necessary in combination with weight savings, due to their highly tunable microstructure and mechanical properties. These properties present great potential for part integration, which results in lower manufacturing costs and faster time to market. Composites also have a high level of styling flexibility in terms of deep drawn panel, which goes beyond what can be achieved with metal stampings. The so-called multifunctional or smart composites provide significant benefits to the vehicles as compared to the traditional materials that only have monotonic properties. CAE Design and Failure Analysis of Automotive Composites focuses on the latest use of CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) methods in design and failure analysis of composite materials and structures, beginning with a brief introduction to the design and failure analysis of composite materials, and then presenting some recent, innovative CAE design examples of composite structures by engineers from major CAE developers and automobile OEMs and suppliers. This title brings together 12 SAE technical papers, carefully selected by the editors covering three main areas of expertise: • Design and Failure Analysis of Composites: Static Loading • Design and Failure Analysis of Composites: Dynamic and Impact Loading • Design and Failure Analysis of Composites: Blast Loading

Smart manufacturing is a broad category of manufacturing that employs computer-integration, high levels of adaptability and rapid design changes, together with digital information technology and a technically-trained workforce. This book presents the proceedings of SMMP2022, the 2022 International Conference on Smart Manufacturing and Material Processing, held on 12 and 13 August 2022 as a virtual event due to continuing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and hosted from Shanghai, China. The conference provides a platform for researchers and scientists from smart manufacturing and material sciences to come together with researchers from various other application areas to discuss problems and solutions, identify new issues, and shape future directions for research. The conference received 60 submissions. These were submitted to a rigorous peer review process by a committee of experts from various disciplines, after which, 23 were accepted for presentation at the conference and publication here. The topics covered include materials processing and product manufacture, sensors and smart material systems, functional materials, industrial automation and process control, and discussion of the state-of-the-art and future direction of smart manufacturing and material sciences. Providing an overview of current developments in smart manufacturing and material processing, the book will be of interest to all those working in the field.

Automotive manufacturers are required to decrease CO2 emissions and increase fuel economy while assuring driver comfort and safety. In recent years, there has been rapid development in the application of lightweight and sustainable materials in the automotive industry to help meet these criteria. This book provides critical reviews and the latest research results of various lightweight and sustainable materials in automotive applications. It discusses current applications and future trends of lightweight materials in the automotive area. While there are a few books published mainly focusing on automotive applications of metallic lightweight materials, to date there is no available book focusing on a broad spectrum of lightweight materials, including metal, plastic, composites, bio-fiber, bio-polymer, carbon fiber, glass fiber, nanomaterials, rubber materials, and foaming materials, as this work does. The book also includes case studies of commercial lightweight automotive parts from sustainable lightweight materials, providing an invaluable resource to those involved in this in-demand research and commercialization area.