A method for monitoring property changes in a composite material structure includes: transmitting a radio-frequency (RF) signal towards the composite material structure using a millimeter-wave radar sensor embedded in the composite material structure; receiving a reflected signal from the composite material structure using the millimeter-wave radar sensor; processing the reflected signal; and determining a property change in the composite material structure based on processing the reflected signal.

An access panel for a body of a vehicle is provided that includes a dome portion, a flat portion, and an extension portion. The dome portion has a reinforcing element. The extension portion extends from the flat portion. A floor panel structure for a vehicle is also provided that includes a metal sheet and an access panel. The metal sheet includes an aperture. The access panel includes a dome portion, a flat portion, and an extension portion. The access panel is coupled to the metal sheet over the aperture, and the flat portion and the extension portion are configured to transmit a downward force applied to the access panel to the metal sheet.

Disclosed is a structure for attachment of a drain nut to a synthetic resin cover. The cover has a nut engagement portion formed in an outer surface of the cover, a cylindrical engagement portion formed with a plurality of piece parts on an inner surface of the cover, and a stepped portion formed between the nut and cylindrical engagement portions. The drain nut has a nut portion engaged in the nut engagement portion, a female thread portion formed in the nut portion for screw-in of a drain plug, a cylindrical portion formed concentrically with the nut portion and engaged in the cylindrical engagement portion, a large-diameter portion formed between the nut and cylindrical portions and engaged in the stepped portion, with an O-ring held between the large-diameter portion and stepped portion, and a collar portion formed around the cylindrical portion and retained by front ends of the piece parts.

A cross car beam assembly is provided herein. A composite beam structure extends transversely across a vehicle. A vehicle floor bracket is disposed below the composite beam. A composite reinforcement has a first portion fixedly engaged to the beam structure and a second portion engaged to the vehicle floor bracket.

A frame arrangement for a vehicle may include a first side member and a second side member that each have an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portions are spaced laterally apart by a first distance, and the lower portions are spaced laterally apart by a second distance less than the first distance. The frame arrangement may further include a first battery positioned between the lower portions of the side members, and a second battery positioned between the upper portions of the side members.

A vehicle lower portion structure includes a resinous floor panel constituting a vehicle cabin floor surface, and a metallic reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is disposed to be bridged between vehicle skeleton members on a lower side of the floor panel and is configured to support a vehicle-mounted object disposed on the lower side of the floor panel.

An electric or hybrid sport car comprising a vehicular frame and a floor formed by a fixed portion with the vehicular frame and a removable base and wherein a bottom part of the base consists of a so-called platform, which consists of a plate made of metal or high-resistance composite material, exposed to the outside so as to operatively face the ground on which the car rests. A rear part of the platform diverges from the ground proceeding towards a rear part of the car, and wherein said rear part of the platform supports a support frame of a rear battery pack, and wherein said support frame comprises a plurality of support layers for as many battery layers, which include columns operatively vertical and structures parallel to the rear portion of the platform.

A load bearing panel member having a first portion, a second portion, and an appearance surface portion is formed by injection molding such that the first portion includes a plurality of ribs forming a grid pattern on the first portion and another plurality of ribs extending toward the periphery of the first portion which may be non-orthogonal to each other and to the ribs forming the grid pattern. An appearance surface portion attached to the first portion and second portion of the panel member forms an integral hinge between the first and second portions of the panel member. The panel member may be configured as a floor panel of a vehicle.

A vehicle includes a floor including a top panel and a bottom panel defining a cavity therebetween. At least one of the top panel and the bottom panel includes a polymeric material. A passenger-climate-control duct is disposed in the cavity and is integral with the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel

A frame arrangement for a vehicle may include first and second longitudinally extending side members that each have an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portions are spaced laterally apart by a first distance, and the lower portions are spaced laterally apart by a second distance less than the first distance. The frame arrangement may further include at least one storage tank or battery positioned between the side members.