University of Siegen – Chair of Lightweight Vehicle Design (FLB)

Company description:

The Chair of Lightweight Vehicle Design (FLB) at the University of Siegen, headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Xiangfan Fang, specializes in interdisciplinary research and development in the field of overall vehicle design and, in particular, vehicle structures. The chair focuses on the development of lightweight structures through new designs in conjunction with characterization and modelling as well as the shaping and joining of metallic materials and fibre-reinforced plastics. The focus is on the development, production and testing of hybrid components made of metal-plastic compounds, implemented using innovative processes such as hybrid forming. These technologies enable considerable weight savings in highly stressed structural components, e.g. B-pillars, roof cross members, chassis and battery box components. In addition, the FLB is conducting intensive research into joining techniques to join metal and fiber-reinforced plastics cost-effectively and efficiently, thus enabling the integration of multi-material components in vehicle bodies.

The close integration and cooperation with industrial partners ensures the practical application of research results. The chair has state-of-the-art technical equipment for a wide range of virtual product development (CAD & CAE) as well as comprehensive testing capacities for the investigation of vehicle, component and material properties and for the creation of corresponding simulation models. The testing and simulation techniques are developed step by step at the sample, component, assembly and even complete vehicle level – both statically and dynamically – using various testing facilities, including drop towers and vehicle crash facilities. The FLB thus covers the entire development chain of vehicle structure developments and makes a decisive contribution to innovation in lightweight vehicle construction.