MATISSE

Modelling And Testing for Improved Safety of key composite StructurEs in alternatively powered vehicles

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'MATISSE aims to make a significant step forward in the capability of the automotive industry to model, predict and optimise the crash behaviour of mass produced Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite structures, which will be extensively used in Alternatively Powered Vehicles. The ability to investigate crashworthiness of FRP vehicle structures by numerical simulation is crucial for these lightweight materials to see widespread use in future cars. By delivering this ability MATISSE will lead to safer, more efficient and more desirable cars. Modelling tools developed will be further validated through two automotive solution components: adaptive crash structures and high-pressure storage tanks. Future crash scenarios will be assessed and new evaluation criteria regarding safety will be developed. With a consortium led by automotive industry yet including partners active in the aerospace domain (where FRP structures are widely used), MATISSE leverages the knowledge from the aeronautical sector while assuring that advances in modelling, simulation and testing capabilities will be directly applicable to and acceptable for automotive applications, reinforcing the European automotive sector. MATISSE comprises 11 partners from 6 countries, including four high ranking European universities/research centres, three SMEs with extensive experience in FP projects, two innovative tier-1 suppliers and two major European vehicles manufacturers. The balance and complementarity of the partners is ensured as each of them has been selected to cover a specific knowledge gap. The consortium as a whole has all the expertise required for the successful implementation of MATISSE objectives. Finally, MATISE will cooperate with existing and future parallel projects through a specific clustering committee created for this purpose. Specific measures for the efficient dissemination and exploitation of project results have been designed and will be implemented in order to maximize its impact.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded scientists are modelling and testing key composite structures in alternatively powered vehicles (APVs). Investigating the crashworthiness of these lightweight materials is crucial to increasing their widespread commercial uptake.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Currently, the ability to model, simulate and predict the behaviour of fibre-reinforced polymer structures lags way behind compared to pressed-steel car bodies. To address this issue, scientists initiated the EU-funded project http://www.project-matisse.eu/ (MATISSE).

The project is developing and testing modelling techniques for fabric-reinforced structures and thick composites with unidirectional fibres. To validate the modelling approach, focus is placed on designing and testing two important safety-critical parts of future APVs, both being examples of pressurised structures. These are compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel tanks and adaptive crash structures.

By using finite element models, scientists are producing designs for lighter and safer cars with on-board high-pressure storage tanks that are subject to dynamic loading. Work is also geared towards designing and assessing adaptive inflators for pressurising adaptive crash structures. Different pressurisation concepts are explored not only to improve the structure stability in case of crash, but also to provide reduced mass and higher packaging efficiency.

So far, scientists have analysed the most likely crash scenarios to find suitable locations for applying composite structures. A testing methodology for identifying the main load paths on the fuel tank in case of a crash has been defined. CNG vehicles are expected to withstand the forces exerted on the gas cylinder in case of a front, lateral or rear collision, avoiding leakage or fire. Ultimately, making CNG tanks lighter and more tightly integrated into the vehicle not only has environmental benefits, but also increases passenger safety.

Scientists selected a door beam as an application for an adaptive crash structure made of fibre-reinforced composites. Several composite materials have been considered for its design, and the inflating mechanisms have also been produced. Based on these concepts, a prototype beam door has been developed.

MATISSE's ultimate aim is to provide advanced crash modelling tools that should allow automotive designers to adequately simulate and test various safety aspects of APVs. The generated reference designs for adaptive crash structures are also likely to find application in non-APVs.