CORUS HELPS SPEED UP CHASSIS COMPONENT DESIGN

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CORUS HELPS SPEED UP CHASSIS COMPONENT DESIGN
19 April 2004 - Corus Automotive

Today, durability is one of the key design requirements for automotive chassis suspension systems.

Historically manufacturers of these systems have relied on physical testing of prototypes to help optimise designs, which is time consuming and can be costly. In addition, with physical testing any durability defects are only identified late in the design process.

Reducing new model programme development time and bringing products to market faster is a major driver for vehicle manufacturers today. By using Corus’s advanced CAE techniques, TKA will be able to accurately predict the fatigue performance of an actual chassis suspension system much earlier in the design process.

Commenting on the benefits to their customers, Simon Flunder, managing director ThyssenKrupp Automotive Tallent Chassis Ltd said: 'With the help of these CAE techniques, various designs using different grades and thicknesses of steel as well as different combinations of weld length and location can be accurately analysed at the same time to provide our customers with a system that optimises component cost and weight reduction whilst ensuring durability and a safe margin for fatigue.'

Mr Flunder continued: 'Importantly Corus’s CAE will significantly reduce the time it takes us to develop new chassis suspension systems which will go some way to help vehicle manufacturers to meet their need to bring products to market faster.'

The collaboration between Corus and TKA involves a comparison of fatigue performance results obtained by physical testing of chassis structures with results obtained using a predictive (CAE) tool. To generate the fatigue data, Corus designed a number of physical test samples and then TKA manufactured the samples for testing at Corus’s Research, Development and Technology (RD&T) facility in the Netherlands. Corus Automotive then entered this test data into the CAE model of the actual chassis suspension system and a very accurate test-prediction correlation was achieved.

Commenting on the collaborative project, Tony Jones, director product & market development, Corus Strip Products UK said: 'Helping manufacturers optimise designs using modern, high-performance steels and the latest CAE technology is just part of the close working relationship that we have with our customers. Whether it is optimising design to save cost and weight or exploiting new steels and manufacturing processes, Corus is committed to working closely with its automotive customers to help them meet the challenges they face today.'

About: Corus Automotive
Corus is one of the leading suppliers of steel products, services and technology to the automotive industry. A broad range of Corus steel from strip, engineering steels, special strip and tubes are used to make products that go into automotive applications including body-in-white, closures, chassis and suspension systems, powertrain, seats, safety systems and other components. Corus is committed to the global automotive industry, and, uniquely, combines its materials and vehicle engineering knowledge to respond cost-effectively to key drivers of importance to the sector, such as safety, fuel-efficiency, innovation and the environment. The Company actively supports supply chain initiatives that improve efficiency and enhance the value of steel used in automotive applications.

Corus Group Plc is one of the world's largest metal producers with an annual turnover of £8 billion and major operating facilities in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway and Belgium. Corus' four divisions comprising Strip Products, Long Products, Distribution & Building Systems and Aluminium provide innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, packaging, mechanical engineering and other markets worldwide. Corus has 48,500 employees in over 40 countries and sales offices and service centres worldwide. Combining international expertise with local customer service, the Corus brand represents quality and strength.

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