Study on the Suitability of Composite Materials for Enhancement of Automotive Fuel Economy

Abstract

In the present paper, the dynamic force-moment equilibrium equations, driving power and energy equations are analyzed to formulate the equation for fuel economy(km/liter) equivalent to the driving distance (km) divided by the fuel volume (liter) of the vehicle, a selected model of gasoline powered KIA K3 (1.6v). In addition, the effects of the dynamic parameters such as speed of vehicle (V), vehicle total weight (M), rolling resistance (C-r) between tires and road surface, inclined angle of road (theta), as well as the aerodynamic parameters such as drag coefficient (C-d) of vehicle, air density(rho), cross-sectional area (A) of vehicle, wind speed (V-w) have been analyzed. And the possibility of alternative materials such as lightweight metal alloys, fiber reinforced plastic composite materials to replace the conventional steel and casting iron materials and to reduce the weight of the vehicle has been investigated by Ashby's material index method. Through studies, the following results were obtained. The most influencing parameters on the fuel economy at high speed zone (100 km/h) were V, the aerodynamic parameters such as C-d, A, rho, and C-r and M. While at low speed zone (60 km/h), they are, in magnitude order, dynamic parameters such as V, M, C-r and aerodynamic ones such as C-d, A, and rho, respectively.