The project is devoted to the elaboration and exploitation of novel R&D models for accurate durability enhancement and assessment of automotive suspension components, focusing on leaf springs. The project outcomes should build an innovating R&D platform with sophisticated, scientific background and comprehensive experimental validation that will be widely applied for the development of engineering components with high requirements on durability and lightweight. The following technological objectives are followed within the framework of LIGHTTECH:
The project aims to support the European leaf spring manufacturers, the associated steel producers and the end-users (OEMs) with novel technologies enabling optimized surface treatment and systematic, knowledge-based development of new, enhanced leaf springs, not attainable with the current technologies. On the same time, the overall product quality, in terms of weight saving, sufficient robustness, durability and safety, will be enhanced.
C. Gakias, G. Maliaris and G. Savaidis. Submitted to Metals 2022, 12(6), 956, https://doi.org/10.3390/met12060956
G. Maliaris, C. Gakias, M. Malikoutsakis and G. Savaidis. Materials, 14, 2784 (2021), https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ma14112784.
M. Pappa, G. Savaidis and N. Michailidis. Materials, 14, 4795 (2021), https://doi.org/10.3390/ ma14174795.
M. Malikoutsakis, I. Makris, A. Pagonas and G. Savaidis. MATEC Web of Conference 349, 02008 (2021), https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf /202134902008.
AUTH is the Project Coordinator. The Laboratory of Machine Elements & Machine Design and the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory will have a major role in the accomplishment of the theoretical models and will contribute to fatigue testing of material specimens, leaf specimens and full-scale leaf spring prototypes.
VISITMAN’s expertise is decisive for the elaboration of the full-scale leaf spring specifications. It will provide the corresponding design specifications, the testing load spectra for the trial tests, and will perform the final durability and functionality tests.
VISITThe main responsibilities of HBO within the proposed project are the execution and assessment of residual stress measurements throughout the project duration, the development of the crucial, material-dependent optimized SSP parameters, and the organization of the final workshop for the dissemination of the project results.
VISITSOGEFI will construct the “conventional” spring and provide its knowledge in optimized Heat-Treatment and Tapering (HTT) processes and surface treatment (SSP) processes.
VISITMBHA will construct the “enhanced” spring and provide its knowledge and individual SSP process data required for the SSP simulations, the corresponding leaf specimens in HTT and optimized SSP conditions to verify the SSP simulations and the experimental S-N curves from the corresponding leaf specimens.
VISITTop steel producer with high R&D-level, SAG will provide its expertise for application of the most promising steel grades (conventional, enhanced) to fulfil the requirements and criteria for the new leaf spring applications treated in the proposed project
VISITFulfill this form to get in touch
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Panepistimioupoli - University Campus
gsavaidis@auth.gr
+302310996005