WORKING GROUP LIGHTENING

Reducing the mass of surface mobility vehicles appears necessary for sustainability. Both products and production processes (as far as product design is concerned) are of interest.

The use of conventional (particularly metallic) materials is promoted by exploiting new manufacturing technologies based on considerations-metallurgical, topological/morphological, functional, reliability, economic and other where relevant. Innovative architectures of vehicle systems and sub-systems are being studied, with reference to overall mass reduction. The study of hybrid structures is addressed, with special reference to polymer/metal joining and concept design of lightened structures. Advanced materials and bio materials for vehicle lightweighting.