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LISI 2015
research & developmenT
A U T O M O T I V E
WEIGHT REDUCTION CHALLENGES
AT THE CORE OF THE R&D
PROGRAMS
Major challenge for all the stakeholders in the automotive industry,
weight reduction initiatives focuses an important part of research
and development efforts of LISI AUTOMOTIVE. Reduction of vehicle
weight is indeed a key factor to improve performance, reduce
fuel consumption and reduce emissions. The savings made on
mechanical components weight, such as fasteners, compensate
the weight penalty of additional equipment integrated for better
driving experience and enhanced safety.
The LISI AUTOMOTIVE division has been particularly active in 2015
in supporting the manufacturers in this virtuous approach, while
ensuring limiting the risks. The research projects were conducted
in several directions in order to achieve solid results.
1. Powertrain
Assemblies components redesign
The LISI AUTOMOTIVE teams focused their activities on new
concept development for hotter engines technology which allow
drastically reduce the emissions, especially on entry level vehicles
without using hybridization. Their industrialization requires re-
engineering and resizing all the assemblies’ components and
fasteners for such engines.
2. Chassis
Limiting the weight of screws
The weight of the chassis screws and their environment, which is
significant in a vehicle, has been primary target of our research.
Even if chassis screws and spacers strength increase offered by LISI
AUTOMOTIVE must, in principle, reduce weight without difficulty,
this option nevertheless imposes complex limits to be overcome:
their hydrogen embrittlement sensivity does indeed require fine
tuning and close monitoring of material treatment processes
to avoid potential resistance losses. This specific issue greatly
mobilized the LISI AUTOMOTIVEmaterials experts in 2015. Several
studies steels embrittlement according to their heat treatment
and their corrosion behavior were conducted in collaboration with
private and public laboratories.
3. Structural components
Use of composite (materials)
The introduction of compositematerials in structural applications is
an interesting perspective inweight-reductionmatters. Depending
on their nature, composite, however, imply design and assembly
issues or even behavior of the materials. Associated in several
research projects in these themes, the LISI AUTOMOTIVE teams
organized an active technology watch in these areas and the
division has positioned itself on the potential industrialization
opportunities.
MCE5-VCRi Technology – The mechanical and technological excellence push
the limits of reducing fuel consumption.
A
500
gr
Weight saving
compared to the
original parts