A method for producing a composite component, which has a first section and a second section connected to the first section, the first section including a metallic material, the second section including a plastic, the first section having a first base region and projections provided on the first base region, and the projections provided on the first base region being anchored in the second section in order to bring about the connection between the first section and the second section, includes: manufacturing the first base region of the first section; creating the projections directly on the first base region by way of an additive manufacturing method; and connecting the second section to the first section.

The invention relates to an automobile hood assembly containing an inner hood, an outer hood, and a core sandwiched between the inner and outer hoods. The inner hood is constructed to provide strength and stiffness to the hood assembly; and the outer hood and core are constructed to provide energy absorption to provide pedestrian safety in case of pedestrian collision. The automobile hood assembly decouples the stiffness and energy absorption requirements of an automobile hood, so that those two design criteria may be accomplished independent of each other.

A process for manufacturing a sandwich structure including two steel skin layers separated by a polymeric layer is provided. The process includes dimensioning the sandwich structure according to a target to be attained by defining the target to be attained by three target values, i.e., tensile strength T.sub.c expressed in kN/mm, bending stiffness B.sub.c expressed in kN/mm, and surface mass M.sub.c expressed in Kg/m.sup.2, defining a tolerance for the attainment of target values, defining the sandwich structure by five variables, i.e., the thickness E.sub.a of the steel skin layers expressed in mm, the polymeric layer thickness E.sub.p expressed in mm, the intrinsic Young's modulus Y.sub.p of the polymeric layer, the intrinsic density d.sub.p of the polymeric layer, and the volume ratio R.sub.p of the polymeric layer expressed as a volume percentage of the polymeric layer of the material, identifying the E.sub.a, E.sub.p, Y.sub.p, d.sub.p, and R.sub.p combinations enabling attainment of the target values having the defined tolerance, and determining, for each variable, an operating range. The process also includes selecting the steel and the polymeric layer for which each variable is within the range defined in the previous step and manufacturing the corresponding sandwich structure.

A vehicle frame structural member assembly method includes an elongated frame member and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is complementarily arranged adjacent the elongated frame member.

This disclosure details overmolded vehicle sheet metal structures that included integrated attachments for achieving part integration. An exemplary sheet metal structure includes a sheet metal panel, a reinforcing structure molded on the sheet metal panel, and an integrally molded attachment structure formed within the reinforcing structure. In some embodiments, the integrally molded attachment structure may include a nut, a bracket, or both. An additional vehicle component may be attached to the sheet metal panel via the integrally molded attachment structure. The sheet metal structure may be formed in a single shot injection molding process.

A sandwich panel floor modular structure includes a sandwich panel configured to be fixed on a floor panel of a vehicle, a center rail embedded in the sandwich panel and configured to guide a console to move in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and seat rails embedded in the sandwich panel and spaced apart from both sides of the center rail, the seat rails configured to guide a seat to move in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

This disclosure details overmolded vehicle sheet metal structures that included integrated attachments for achieving part integration. An exemplary sheet metal structure includes a sheet metal panel, a reinforcing structure molded on the sheet metal panel, and an integrally molded attachment structure formed within the reinforcing structure. In some embodiments, the integrally molded attachment structure may include a nut, a bracket, or both. An additional vehicle component may be attached to the sheet metal panel via the integrally molded attachment structure. The sheet metal structure may be formed in a single shot injection molding process.

A thermally insulated floor for a trailer includes a layer of parallel support beams. Each support beam is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a forward direction of the trailer. A substantially planar panel of thermally insulating material is disposed on and supported by the layer of parallel support beams. A substantially planar layer of wood is disposed on and supported by the panel of thermally insulating material. The support beams, the panel of thermally insulating material, and the layer of wood are secured together.

A thermally insulated floor for a trailer includes a layer of parallel support beams. Each support beam is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to a forward direction of the trailer. A substantially planar panel of thermally insulating material is disposed on and supported by the layer of parallel support beams. A substantially planar layer of wood is disposed on and supported by the panel of thermally insulating material. The support beams, the panel of thermally insulating material, and the layer of wood are secured together.

A system for insulating a structural element in a motor vehicle including a structural element having a first constituent part and a second constituent part which are joined together at a first joining point and a second joining point and form a cavity. The system furthermore includes a device having a carrier and a first expandable adhesive, wherein the carrier is arranged on the first constituent part of the structural element by way of a fastening element. The system furthermore includes a second expandable adhesive which is arranged on the second constituent part of the structural element. In this case, the first expandable adhesive and the second expandable adhesive are configured, and arranged, in such a way that, after the adhesives have been expanded, the device and the second expandable adhesive substantially completely fill a cross section of the structural element.