AMC materials for lightweight construction applications in vertical dynamics

Abstract

Sustainability strategies and lightweight construction measures are central to current and future product development processes. In the best case, creating a direct dependency between both is possible. In the project, “RePro AMC” components of a vehicle damper are specifically substituted and replaced with aluminum matrix composite (AMC). In this scenario, silicon carbide is used as a reinforcing component with a proportion of up to 15 percent by volume. The advantage here is not only the lower mass of aluminum over steel but also the fact that AMC can also be produced from so-called secondary aluminum (recycled aluminum). The following section reports on the realization of the AMC components and their significance for vehicle dynamics. A twin-tube damper is installed on the rear axle of an SUV, serving as a demonstrator.