The Use of Directed Fiber Preforms in Automotive Bumper Beam Components

摘要

Structural reaction injection molded(SRIM) bumper beams have been designed to replace the existing steel bumper beam and add-on energy absorber with a one piece component. Textron Automotive Company (TAC) has demonstrated two bumper beam designs made from glass fiber that were ailored to emet the 8 kilometers per hour or kph(5 miles per hour or mph) impact reuqirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard(FMVSS) 581. One design was for an electric vehicle; andthe other, a prototype for a conventional gasoline powered vehicle. These directed fiber preforms were fabricated with a sandwich ofglass fiber and fabric and molded with a high elongation polyurethane matrix. These full scale bumper beams were then tested for towed barrier impact results and physical property evaluation .These SRIM bumper beams are ideal for weigth-sensitive vehicles including electric or alternative power vehicles. Details of the two designs will be given in this paper.