Key Findings
Composite Metal Foam (CMF) significantly outperforms conventional rail materials in absorbing crash energy during 55 mph frontal collisions. When compared to a double-octagonal rail of equal length and weight, CMF reduces maximum vehicle deceleration by approximately 38%, while reducing overall crash severity and the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) by about 45%. The performance gap is more pronounced against conventional rectangular rails, where CMF reduces maximum deceleration by about 84%, crash severity by approximately 94%, and HIC by about 83%.
Technical Details
CMF is a lightweight material composed of hollow metal or alloy spheres embedded within a metallic matrix. This internal structure allows the material to progressively absorb compressive forces during an impact. Unlike traditional materials that may transmit the load rapidly through the vehicle structure, CMF deforms in a controlled manner to manage enormous impact forces and slow the rate of deceleration.
Background and Context
Current vehicle bumper systems and front rails are designed to deform progressively to protect the passenger compartment. Most manufacturers currently utilize either rectangular steel rails or double-octagonal aluminum rails. However, the energy-absorbing capacity of these conventional materials is limited, which can lead to rapid vehicle deceleration and increased risk of injury to occupants during high-speed collisions.
Significance and Outlook
The research led by Dr. Afsaneh Rabiei suggests that CMF rails can match the length and weight of conventional rails while absorbing far more energy. By reducing the severity of the impact and the predicted risk of head injuries, CMF provides a technical solution for increasing occupant and vehicle safety in high-speed frontal collisions without the penalty of added vehicle weight.
Source: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/can-lightweight-metal-foam-make-car-crashes-safer/
Get our weekly technology intelligence — free
Receive an infographic that lets you judge at a glance whether each field’s analysis report is worth reading.
Subscribe Free — Weekly Tech Intelligence
By subscribing, you’ll receive Troy-Technical’s weekly technology intelligence newsletter.
- Your email and selected fields are used only to deliver the newsletter.
- We never share your information with third parties.
- You can unsubscribe anytime via the link in each email.
See our Privacy Policy for details.
Takes about a minute · Unsubscribe anytime
