Design of a Lightweight Rear Crash Management System in a Sustainable Perspective

Francesco Del Pero, Massimo Delogu and Martin Kerschbaum
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Francesco Del Pero: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Via di S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy
Massimo Delogu: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Via di S. Marta 3, 50139 Florence, Italy
Martin Kerschbaum: Toyota Motor Europe, Hoge Wei 33—Technical Centre, B-1930 Zaventem, Belgium

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-20

Abstract: The paper presents an innovative lightweight design solution for the rear crash management system of a C-class car, developed within the AffordabLe LIghtweight Automobiles AlliaNCE (ALLIANCE) EU research project. The innovation provides that the reference version of the module, based on conventional steel components, is revolutionized through the introduction of extruded 6000/7000 series aluminum alloys. The two competing alternatives are described and compared in relation to design and technological solutions, including also a sustainability analysis which assesses the entire Life Cycle (LC) of the system on the basis of a wide range of environmental indicators. The lightweight solution allows achieving a large mass reduction (almost 40%), while providing improvements in terms of strength, production efficiency and design freedom. On the other hand, the introduction of new materials and manufacturing technologies entails contrasting sustainability effects depending on impact category, thus not allowing to affirm that the novel alternative is unequivocally preferable under the environmental point of view. However, the comprehensive evaluation of all sustainability aspects through a multi-criteria decision analysis (TOPSIS method) reveals that the environmental profile of the innovative design is slightly preferable with respect to the conventional one.

Keywords: eco-design; lightweighting; structural integrity; sustainability; life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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