Design and manufacture of a composite bus

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2012

Authors

António Torres Marques (Author) FEUP; Lobo, BA (Author) Other; Aguiar, C (Author) Other; Cabral, GP (Author) Other; Silva, JM (Author) Other; Fernando Gomes Almeida (Author) FEUP; F.M. Andrade Pires (Author) FEUP; Couto, NA (Author) Other; Neves, P (Author) Other; Miranda, HD (Author) Other; Marques, MJ (Author) Other; De Carvalho, FX (Author) Other; Duarte, JF (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: ECCM15

Pages: 1-8

ECCM15 - 15TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Venice, Italy, 24-28 June

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Other engineering and technologies

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-P88

Resumo (PT): Within the project CIVITAS - Cleaner and Better Transport in Cities, a new concept of bodywork for a minibus has been developed. Bearing in mind the financial resources available, it was decided to transform a Toyota Coaster, reusing the entire mechanical base (frame) and design a new body with composite materials. In this paper, it will be presented the industrial design solution, related with structural concept, manufacture and assembly. It will, also, be presented the structural simulation of the sandwich (sandwich Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) core and COMBI skins) panels, using ABAQUS software and the estimated properties of the composite system were determined using ESACOMP software. In parallel with the simulations, a manufacturing strategy was agreed with a shipyard (ENP- Estaleiros Navais de Peniche). The technology applied was the Vacuum Infusion that uses the resin injection through vacuum, to impregnate and consolidate the laminate. The final solution presents a weight reduction of 16% with respect to the original one. Moreover, with this manufacturing process, it has been possible to have big size parts with high quality finishing. The strategy used made a reduction in the number of parts as well as in the production time.

Abstract (EN): Within the project CIVITAS - Cleaner and Better Transport in Cities, a new concept of bodywork for a minibus has been developed. Bearing in mind the financial resources available, it was decided to transform a Toyota Coaster, reusing the entire mechanical base (frame) and design a new body with composite materials. In this paper, it will be presented the industrial design solution, related with structural concept, manufacture and assembly. It will, also, be presented the structural simulation of the sandwich (sandwich Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) core and COMBI skins) panels, using ABAQUS software and the estimated properties of the composite system were determined using ESACOMP software. In parallel with the simulations, a manufacturing strategy was agreed with a shipyard (ENP- Estaleiros Navais de Peniche). The technology applied was the Vacuum Infusion that uses the resin injection through vacuum, to impregnate and consolidate the laminate. The final solution presents a weight reduction of 16% with respect to the original one. Moreover, with this manufacturing process, it has been possible to have big size parts with high quality finishing. The strategy used made a reduction in the number of parts as well as in the production time.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific