Design of Automotive Metal and Composite Chassis Structures

This paper reviews recent patents covering automotive metal and composite chassis structures. Automotive chassis are very complex structures and the variety of different types is vast. This paper attempts to reveal modern chassis design looking at composite structures, bonding methods, front sub-frames, complete space-frames, uni-body, integral frame and monocoque structures. Automotive chassis designs have had considerable developments in recent years. This is attributed to recent legislation taking particular interest in after service disposal and more prominently crash, impact and occupant safety. Automotive manufacturers continue to develop new, innovative and novel approaches to achieving rigidity and stiffness in torsion and bending to achieve optimal suspension geometry, safety and occupant comfort. Recent patents in automotive chassis design refer mainly to stiffening support structures, composite structures, retractable roofs and by far the most common, front crash sub frames.