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A Lightweight Automobile Body Concept Featuring Ultra-Large, Thin-Wall Structural Magnesium Castings

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Essential Readings in Magnesium Technology

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Abstract

This paper describes a lightweight automobile body concept utilizing a hybrid materials approach with emphasis on a magnesium and aluminum structure to support a high fuel-efficiency vehicle project. This approach resulted in a more than 40% weight reduction over a conventional steel body-in-white while achieving significantly improved staictural performance as evaluated through CAE simulations. A business case analysis was conducted and showed promising results. One concept vehicle was built for the purpose of demonstrating concept feasibility.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DaimlerChrysler Corporation, 800 Chrysler Dr. Auburn Hills, MI, 48326, USA

    Stephen Logan

Authors
  1. Stephen Logan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science Division, U.S. Army Research Office (ARO), USA

    Suveen N. Mathaudhu B.S.E., Ph.D. (Program Manager for Synthesis and Processing of Materials, Adjunct Assistant Professor) (Program Manager for Synthesis and Processing of Materials, Adjunct Assistant Professor)

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, USA

    Suveen N. Mathaudhu B.S.E., Ph.D. (Program Manager for Synthesis and Processing of Materials, Adjunct Assistant Professor) (Program Manager for Synthesis and Processing of Materials, Adjunct Assistant Professor)

  3. The Ohio State University (OSU), Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Alan A. Luo (Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor of Integrated Systems Engineering, Vice Chair of TMS Light Metals Division and SAE Materials Division and the Chair of SAE Non-Ferrous Metals Committee) (Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor of Integrated Systems Engineering, Vice Chair of TMS Light Metals Division and SAE Materials Division and the Chair of SAE Non-Ferrous Metals Committee)

  4. IND LLC, Canada

    Neale R. Neelameggham (Guru) (Guru)

  5. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Washington, USA

    Eric A. Nyberg B.S., M.S. (Chief Engineer) (Chief Engineer)

  6. New Materials & Energy Unit at the research and technology center, European Space Agency (ESA-ESTEC), Netherlands

    Wim H. Sillekens Ph.D. (project manager) (project manager)

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© 2016 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

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Logan, S. (2016). A Lightweight Automobile Body Concept Featuring Ultra-Large, Thin-Wall Structural Magnesium Castings. In: Mathaudhu, S.N., Luo, A.A., Neelameggham, N.R., Nyberg, E.A., Sillekens, W.H. (eds) Essential Readings in Magnesium Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48099-2_8

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