Research

The Institute for Automotive Lightweight Construction (LiA) of the University of Paderborn analyses different innovative approaches for lightweight automotive applications. An essential topic is, in addition to high-performance materials for use in automotive structures, the research in the field of new manufacturing processes for lightweight structures. This includes for example lightweight solutions out of hot-formed, ultra high strength steels. Another focus is on hybrid, load adapted structures that consist for example of metal / FRP composites.

Here, the complete product life cycle is considered from design and development through production to recycling. A special attention is given to the development and optimization of new lightweight products. The first step is to analyse the component in detail, before an optimization loop follows in which different lightweight concepts are developed, the components are simulated, designed and optimized, first demonstrators are created and the simulation results are validated. In this optimization loop, both the materials and the processes and products are optimized so that, as a result, a holistic lightweight product is developed.

At the Chair of Automotive Lightweight Construction several publicly funded projects are executed, among others, projects funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).