Body Engineering

Activity in body engineering includes:

• Development and specification of appropriate test methods for body materials
• Laboratory screening of OEM and repair adhesives - environmental exposure, quasi-static, dynamic, fatigue, impact etc.
• Laboratory test programs (material properties, joint and structural performance, product testing etc.)
• Design analysis with FEA and fracture mechanics (joints, structures, weatherstrips etc.)
• Life prediction

Example areas:

Lightweighting of vehicle structures/bodies
Lightweighting is achieved through the introduction of lighter and thinner gauge materials. Activities include:

• Characterisation of composite materials including fatigue and fracture properties for design
• Assessment of bonded and weld-bonded joints and structures (strength, fatigue, durability, design analysis) with a variety of substrates - thermoplastics, composites, metals (aluminium, magnesium, steel) and rubber

Repair of bonded structures
A review of current repair strategies for bonded structures has been carried out in conjunction with OEMs, substrate and adhesive suppliers, insurance companies and the repair industry. The performance of repair adhesives has also been assessed; significant differences were found between repair and original adhesives.

Weatherstrips
Weather strips, typically made in EPDM, are increasingly being replaced by TPEs. Comparative performance can be assessed from measurement of creep/stress relaxation and ageing.