To make the next generation of lightweighting come through, engineers undertake
increasingly deep simulation of composite performances during the part design phase. After
having considered stiffness and failure predictions, they are now eager to tackle fiber
reinforced plastic (FRP) durability, accounting simultaneously for FRP manufacturing
process and nonlinear behavior. To address their interest, e-Xstream engineering has
joined DURAFIP, a collaborative R&D project involving 14 academic and industrial French …

OEMs are seeking to develop vehicle light weighting strategies that will allow them to meet
weight and fuel economy targets hence increasingly shifting their focus towards
incorporating lighter material solutions at mass produced scales. Composites are seen by
automotive manufacturers as the solution to lightweight vehicles without affecting their
performance. More and more parts are made of short fiber reinforced plastics (SFRP) as well
as continuous fiber composites. However, replacing metals by composites requires a new …