Composite Vehicle Body Panel Structure for Lightweight Strength

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reducing the weight of motor vehicle body panels through thickness or density reduction in plastic materials face limitations due to appearance defects and mechanical performance degradation, offering only limited weight savings of approximately 5% to 15%.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle body panel design featuring a thin plastic coating (0.1-1.5 mm thick) fixed to a plastic support, allowing for significant weight reduction without compromising mechanical strength, achieved by using a lightweight plastic coating and support structure, which can include perforated or woven materials with elastic deformation capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the thickness of plastic body panels is reduced to save weight, then weight is reduced, but mechanical strength and appearance quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody panel weightVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure combining a thin plastic covering (0.1-1.5mm) with a plastic support frame, creating a hybrid construction that achieves weight reduction while maintaining mechanical strength through the synergistic combination of materials and structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The body panel is divided into two functional parts: a thin covering layer for weight reduction and aesthetic purposes, and a separate support structure for mechanical strength, allowing each component to be optimized independently for its specific function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Weight of moving object

If the density of plastic material is reduced to save weight, then weight is reduced, but mechanical performance and appearance quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody panel weightVSAvoidmechanical performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines a low-density thin covering with a structured plastic support to achieve weight reduction without compromising mechanical performance, as the support structure provides the necessary strength while the covering contributes minimal weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If lightening recesses are made by molding to reduce mass, then weight is reduced, but appearance defects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody panel weightVSAvoidappearance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the aesthetic covering layer from the structural support, allowing the support to contain molded recesses for weight reduction while the smooth covering layer maintains appearance quality by concealing the structural features

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4385777A1Motor vehicle body panel
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 OPMOBILITY SE
  • EP4385777A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4385777A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4385777A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle body panel (2), comprising at least one coating (4) of a thickness between 0.1 and 1.5 millimeters, preferably between 0.3 and 0.7 millimeters, forming a main body of the body panel (2), the coating being fixed to at least one plastic support (10) forming at least in part a frame of the body panel (2).