Dipl.-Ing. Kristian Seidel
 

Abstract of speech

The automotive industry is characterised by high requirements in terms of efficiency across the entire product lifecycle. Lightweight construction is a significant measure to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of a motor vehicle. Due to their excellent weight specific mechanical properties fibre reinforced plastics (FRP), especially carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) offer a high potential for weight reduction. Within a project funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of North-Rhine-Westphalia open issues should be addressed and thus the potential of CFRP for the automotive series production will be developed. However, light vehicles have to be manufactured at competitive costs. A substantial challenge is the reduction of production costs and cycle times. For shorter development times it is important to establish adequate simulation models and developing effective methods to handle the complex anisotropic material properties for exploiting the weight reduction potential of the material optimally.

The presentation gives an overview of carbon fibre reinforced plastics in automotive applications, e.g. the development of a carbon fiber hood with integral design based on the Ford Focus. Using a requirements analysis suitable fabrication, material and design concepts were defined. In terms of functional stiffness and strength requirements and with regard to pedestrian protection, the dimensioning was developed by the finite element method. Design and optimization of the hood were carried out in close cooperation between experts of the ika and the IKV to ensure material and production-proven design. Thus, a weight reduction of approximately 60% compared to the reference hood in steel-design was achieved. The simulation results have been confirmed in real component tests.

In addition to researchers at the ika and the IKV industrial partner of the Ford Re-search Center Aachen GmbH and the company's CI Composite Impulse GmbH & Co, Toho Tenax Europe GmbH, Evonik Industries AG and Henkel AG & Co. KGaA are involved.

Resume

Education

1998–2007: Automotive engineering studies at RWTH Aachen University

Professional Experience

Since 06/2013: Manager Lightweight Design and Materials,

fka Forschungsgesellschaft Kraftfahrwesen mbH Aachen

04/2007-05/2013: Project engineer, body department

Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge (ika) RWTH Aachen University

08/2003-04/2006: Student Assistant production measurement technology and quality management, Werkzeugmaschinenlabor WZL der RWTH Aachen

06/2005-09/2005: Internship FEM simulation and optimisation of hybrid vehicle parts, Imperia GmbH, Aachen

09/1999-10/1999: Internship plastic injection moulding

Jos. Zimmermann GmbH & Co. KG, Alsdorf

Achievements in scientific research

Dipl.-Ing. Kristian Seidel studied mechanical engineering focusing on automotive engineering at RWTH Aachen University. From 2007 to 2013, he has been a researcher at ika focusing on the development of multi-material vehicle structures regarding passive safety and lightweight design. Since 2013 he is Manager Lightweight Materials and Design at fka. Mr Seidel has been involved in several national and international research projects developing lightweight vehicle structures, some of them focussing especially on fibre reinforced plastics. E.g. he has been involved in the ELVA project on advanced electric vehicle architectures and is currently supporting SEAM activities on advanced simulation of lightweight structures.