Structural Optimisation in Road Vehicle Components Design

Mass minimization is and has always been a central task in vehicle design. Lightweight design is nowadays assuming an even greater importance in road vehicles development. Many automotive companies and vehicle components manufacturers are performing several research activities on new composite materials and high strength aluminium alloys for reducing the overall mass of the vehicles. The weight reduction is a central issue in the design of new road vehicles, not only for improving vehicle performances, but also for the reduction of fuel consumption and emissions, as the new, tighter European standards (Euro VI) on environmental impact require.