Innovative use of composites in suspension systems

The use of composite materials e.g. carbon fibre reinforced polymers in suspension systems can contribute to lighter and therefore more energy-efficient passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Besides ensuring the technological feasibility, the implementation of the corresponding large-scale production is essential to compete with classical metal structures. Within the chassis, both lateral and longitudinal leaf springs made from composite materials have been found to meet these requirements. Single- and multi-axis struts, produced in a spatial winding process, are a further promising example of load-path optimized chassis components showing high potential for automotive series applications.In the present paper, both composite leaf spring and strut applications are presented with a focus on the holistic development approach besides their respective technical features.