Suitability assessments for advanced composite-metal hybrid material systems in automotive crash structural applications

The application of hybrid material systems composed of advanced composites and metals in automotive crash structural applications holds significant potential in terms of lightweighting and functional improvements. This paper proposes a comprehensive methodology to assess the suitability of vehicle body components for the application of hybrid material systems by analysing superimposed numerical crash simulation data of conventional steel bodies-in-white. The loading anisotropy and the global deformation are presented as two suitability criteria including an evaluation methodology to eventually select suitable hybrid material systems in the transition from conventional to enhanced material employment and vehicle structure design. Additionally, the methodology provides novel insights into the global structural loading by simultaneously considering multiple crash load cases.