30. M3Strength Contributions Towards the Use of Composites in Automotive Applications

The continuous effort to reduce significantly the CO2 emission has enforced the automotive industry to embrace composites as a potential (weight saving) solution. However, for an increased use of these innovative materials in more load bearing parts, an in-depth understanding of the mechanical behaviour is mandatory. Whereas stiffness and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) are predictable with acceptable accuracy, the accurate prediction of failure, durability, crash and crush is still not straightforward and necessitates urgently the development of more advanced numerical prediction tools. In an attempt to bridge this gap, the MacroModelMat (M3) research program key targets are to develop, based on a multi-scale approach, efficient validated predictive modeling methodologies and tools for macro-level quasi-static behaviour, fatigue, crush, crashworthiness. The roadmap to achieve these targets, addressed in the M3 program coordinated by Siemens PLM Software, will be presented. Emphasis will be given to the multi-scale crush simulation and the experimental fatigue testing results as part of the extensive experimental test programme to validate the models.