Primer on Automotive Lightweighting Technologies

Aluminum is increasingly replacing steel in automotive applications due to its superior strength-to-weight ratio, equal or better stiffness and toughness properties, durability, and manufacturability considerations. Primer on Automotive Lightweighting Technologies introduces basic ideas and principles of designing and engineering automotive components with aluminum. Topics include application of the knowledge to understand how automotive body and structures are designed, as well as other major and smaller automotive components, such as engine blocks and their components, chassis systems, and wheels.

• Discusses material considerations in engineering design
• Describes mechanical and physical properties of aluminum
• Covers manufacturing methods and automotive and industrial applications of aluminum products
• Offers information on design for functional performance and cost optimization
• Includes coverage of extruded and rolled products and car body structure

This practical book is aimed at professionals in the fields of materials and mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, and metals and alloys, as well as advanced students and researchers.

Dr. Raghu Echempati, PI, is a full professor of Mechanical Engineering at Kettering University. He earned his Master's and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (India) and another Master's in Engineering Management from Kettering University. He is a registered professional engineer (P.E.). He was an active member of SME and a certified manufacturing engineer also granted by SME. He is an active member and a fellow of ASME, active member and McFarland awardee of SAE, and an active member of ASEE. He participated in several study abroad programs in Germany and taught design and finite element analysis courses for several semesters in Germany and in India. He secured Fulbright award twice to teach in India and in Thailand.

Since 2005, he has been one of the organizers of Body Design and Engineering session of SAE world congress. He is a panel member to review proposals submitted to NSF, Fulbright and Gilman Foundation (for study abroad). He has published over 130 journal and conference papers and supervised several undergraduate and graduate student theses in the areas of design, finite element analysis and manufacturing. His academic teaching, applied research and consulting experience spans over 25 years. He taught several core and elective courses in the mechanics, design and manufacture areas, including sheet metal forming course that he developed and taught for many years. He published a few papers with his students on formability of aluminum sheet metal parts.

Dr. Echempati worked at GM and other industries as a aculty Intern to understand the better practices followed in bulk and sheet metal forming processes, primarily using steel and to some extent aluminum formed conventionally and by hydroforming operations.