A structural reinforcement comprising a base reinforcing structure including a plurality of ribs and having a first surface and a second surface, an expandable adhesive material located onto a first portion of the first surface, and a sealant material located around an edge of the second surface, the second surface being substantially free of any of the plurality of ribs.

There is provided a hole plug including: a body portion including a cover flange portion that covers an opening, an insertion portion that is inserted into the opening, and at least one pair of engagement portions that is engaged with a back side peripheral edge of the opening; and a thermosoftening resin member that is fixed to a back side peripheral edge of the cover flange portion and that is configured to be heated and melted so as to fix the cover flange portion to a predetermined member. The thermosoftening resin member includes an extension portion extending obliquely outward toward the predetermined member, and the extension portion is elastically abutted against a front side of the predetermined member in a state where the engagement portion is engaged with the back side peripheral edge of the opening before melting of the thermosoftening resin member.

An automotive structural component includes a lattice structure. The lattice structure defines a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells include a multitude of at least partially filled cells each at least partially filled with a filling, and a multitude of hollow cells distributed amongst the multitude of at least partially filled cells to distribute and direct load.

An axle carrier for an electric motor vehicle and a method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed. The axle carrier has a shell component including an upper shell and a lower shell made from a fiber-composite material, and at least one induction line is integrated in the lower shell.

A structural reinforcement device for insertion into a cavity of a structure and method for making the same including a first reinforcement section that has at least one projection of a first expandable polymeric material secured to it; and a separate second reinforcement section mated with the first reinforcement section, the second reinforcement section being configured to include at least one cavity, into which the at least one projection penetrates upon mating, and at least one aperture defined therein through which the expandable material flows during expansion and where it will remain upon curing of the material, thereby causing the first reinforcement section to be coupled with the second reinforcement section.

A reinforcing structure of a vehicle frame member includes: ribs that integrally connect standing wall portions, that are formed at a planar portion of a vehicle frame member, to one another, and that reinforce the planar portion; portions of gradually changing thickness that are formed at connected portions of the ribs with the standing wall portions; portions of gradually changing height that are formed at the connected portions of the ribs with the standing wall portions; first curved portions that are formed at the portions of gradually changing thickness; second curved portions that are formed at the portions of gradually changing thickness; third curved portions that are formed at the portions of gradually changing height; and fourth curved portions that are formed at the portions of gradually changing height.

A self-supporting underframe for a vehicle, the vehicle, and a production method thereof. The underframe has two elongate monocoques arranged parallel and spaced apart from each other and at least 50% closed on at least four sides, wherein the monocoques each have a single-part, trough-like element having at least one lower base and two side walls extending upwards from the base. At least one cover element closes the trough-like elements over at least 50% of the longitudinal extent of the particular trough-like element. The at least one cover element of each of the two monocoques in each case includes at least one cross-strut cover element, and the cross-strut cover elements of the two monocoques are designed as a common, single-part cross-strut cover element spanning an intermediate space located between the trough-like elements of the monocoques. The cover elements are fixedly connected to the side walls of the monocoques.

An exterior trim part for a vehicle comprises a fibrous porous structural layer. The fibrous porous structural layer consists of staple fibers, only. At least 50%, preferably between 70% and 100%, of the staple fibers comprise a first polymer made of modified polyester, such as CoPET, with a melting temperature between 150 C. and 240 C., preferably between 190 C. and 240 C.

Disclosed are body panel strakes for improved vehicle aerodynamics, methods for making and methods for using such aerodynamic strakes, and motor vehicles employing aerodynamic strakes for reducing turbulent flow and developing higher static pressure at the rear of the vehicle. An underbody panel for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The motor vehicle includes a vehicle body with an undercarriage spanning between front and rear vehicle ends. The underbody panel includes a panel body that attaches to the vehicle body and covers a portion of the undercarriage. One or more elongated air strakes are attached to and project from the panel body. Each air strake includes an elongated body that extends longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and has an inboard-facing curvature. The air strake guides airflow traveling fore-to-aft along the undercarriage in an inboard direction to thereby increase static pressure on the rear end of the vehicle.

A shock-absorbing unit may include a reinforcement part made of a composite material, which has a panel shape, two opposing end portions of which are connected to the inner panel to divide the inner space into a separation space adjacent to the outer panel and a partition space adjacent to the inner panel, and which has a coupling protrusion protruding from the inner surface thereof toward the inner panel, and a shock-absorbing part made of a composite material, which has a coupling recess formed in one side thereof to receive the coupling protrusion so as to be connected to the reinforcement part in the partition space, and the opposite side of which is connected to the inner surface of the inner panel and is supported by the inner panel.