European Union proposals affecting the length of semi-trailer trucks and cabs are set to have a dramatic effect on European cab-over truck designs and will also allow for folding aerodynamic aids to be fitted to the rear of trailers.
The company’s laser-diode high beams have three times the luminosity of LED-type high beams, but don't hit oncoming drivers like a Sci-Fi movie death ray.
Ford is using a highly engineered lens with 16 precision optical surfaces and 80 facets in the upcoming 2015 F-150's headlamp to re-create as much as possible a daytime quality of light after the sun goes down. The automaker says no other light-duty pickup truck on the road today uses LED headlamps.
SAE International’s “Theory and Applications of Aerodynamics for Ground Vehicles” provides an introduction to ground vehicle aerodynamics and methodically guides the reader through the various aspects of the subject.
Researchers aim to develop a composite crashbox suitable for 1000 parts/day production at low cost and adapted to current mass-market vehicle design. Various matrixes, preform types, and manufacturing processes have been evaluated by axial and 15° off-axis crash tests. Solutions for short-term development are proposed, with 66% weight reduction compared to current steel parts, and an estimated price of less than €5 per saved kg.
One of the four headlamps on the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT has a hidden role as a cool air intake pathway for the supercharged 707 hp "Hellcat" Hemi V8.
Engineers from Nissan Technical Center NA detail the automaker's efforts to advance composite structural closures by developing and producing a high-volume, fully recyclable composite liftgate with low metal content, which debuted on the 2014 Rogue.
The patented V-Raptor Bucket from Leading Edge Attachments, Inc. is a ripper/bucket combination for excavators and backhoes that allows the operator to rip rock, coral, or frozen ground with the maximum breakout force; pry out and carry stumps or cradle boulders; rip a clean narrow V trench for laying utilities; plus scoop and load material.
Boeing makes a leap forward in manufacturing automation with a portable orbital drilling tool that is, at its core, indistinguishable from a fully autonomous robotic system.
Solar Flex GP-FLEX series panels from Go Power use monocrystalline cells to increase energy per square foot when powering tools, lighting, lift gates, and truck-mounted equipment.
Researchers from Graz University of Technology consider the aerodynamic characteristics of general modifications to the outer contour of long-distance haulage trailers, including a new approach for the realization of a variable trailer rear end.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)'s all-new Ingenium modular, turbocharged gasoline and diesel engine range targets significant internal friction reduction by using rolling-element bearings to support camshafts and balance shafts.
The methodology enables material selection and design optimization of energy absorbers for pedestrian protection based on a simple laboratory test and FE model, eliminating the need for extensive vehicle testing.
Researchers at Ashok Leyland make a case for choosing stainless steel over galvanized steel and aluminum for the complete bus structure. Although the initial material cost is higher for stainless steel, it scores better in other areas including mechanical and thermal properties and optimized structure weight. On the whole, the lower life cycle cost (LCC) offsets the initial material cost and yields rich dividends to the end customer, they claim.
A widely used material for lightning strike protection of CFRP structures within the aerospace industry is expanded metal foil (EMF). An issue with EMF is micro cracking of the paint, which can result in corrosion of the metal foil and subsequent loss of conductivity. Boeing researchers examined the issues of stress and displacement in the composite structure layup, which contribute to paint cracking caused by aircraft thermal cycling.