Foam beam
Page 14
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REINFORCED polyurethar foam composite beams can designed to be 10 per co lighter than the optimum re tangular steel tubes of the sarr width/depth ratio for use energy absorbing structures.
This was one of the poin made by Guy Tidbury, direct, of studies in vehicle structures Cranfield Institute of Technolo( when he spoke at Boditek 82 la week.
He suggested that practic structures can be designed steel reinforced polyurethar composite which will show weight and cost saving ov other types of plastic-well( steel frame designs.
Mr Tidbury compared the co of production of reinforced r action injection mouldin (RRIM) for a lorry cab with NI other types of plastic pan( namely hand laid up grp ar sheet moulded compoun (SMC).
The amount of steel in ti framework of each cab was a sumed to be equal, although A Tidbury suggested that th' could be reduced with futu RRIM designs.
The Cranfield cost predictior showed that the RRIM design more economical at all produ tion volumes up to 10,000 uni per year.