A Method of Evaluating the Joint Effectiveness on Contribution to Global Vehicle Performance

• Summary of total contribution of adding and removing parts

The Need to Increase BIW Stiffness
• Advancements in steel technologies at AK Steel, along with Ford Motor Company’s BIW optimization techniques, dramatically reduce the steel mass used to meet crash requirements.
• Smarter design of the BIW is necessary to increase the body stiffness & joint efficiency.
• Current AK Steel AHSS products, along with soon to be launched Next Generation and 3 rd Generation AHSS products, will assist Ford Motor Company in continuing to lead the way for the lightest, most capable vehicles on the road.
• Ford Motor company designs are open to all materials in order to achieve light weight designs.
• We choose the right material for the right application and right part.

Conclusion
• This joint effectiveness method is valuable in improving the global stiffness performance & minimizing the added weight by reinforcing local joints.
• While offering high strength, better formability and crash safety for future vehicles using AK steel new material grades, the stiffness performance will not be compromised.
• The global torsion rigidity of this vehicle is improved with minimal mass increase & added stiffness-mass ratio 20