Composite Materials Development for Transit Bus

The objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate lighter weight, lower cost, higher performing structures for transit buses and other mass transit applications, made from thermoplastic composite materials; and to determine whether the component (fabricated from thermoplastic composite materials) performs the same as, or better than, the conventional structural component it is intended to replace; costs less to manufacture, and weighs less than the existing component. Thermoplastic composite materials are environmentally-friendly and recyclable. The Southern Research Institute continues to conduct research to determine whether it is feasible to design and fabricate components for mass transit applications from thermoplastic composite materials. This includes developing long fiber thermoplastic composite materials and product forms, as well as fabrication methods for molding components from long fiber thermoplastic composite materials that can be used to reduce the cost and weight of components used in buses and other mass transit applications. During Phase 2 of the project, SRI fabricated a different component--bus floor panel--to demonstrate that long fiber thermoplastic composite materials can be used (1) for demanding applications, meeting the rigorous requirements for stiffness, load bearing, and longevity, and (2) for large-area applications such as floor panels on a transit bus. The research will document results of performance tests (for durability, impact resistance, and fire safety) and analyze impacts on costs (manufacturing and life cycle costs). Ultimately, the project will determine whether the fabricated component performs the same as, or better than, the conventional structural component it is intended to replace; costs less to manufacture, and weighs less than the existing component.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $876600.00
• Contract Numbers:

  FTA-AL-26-7001.02

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Williams, Terrell

• Performing Organizations:

  Southern Research Institute

  P.O. Box 55305
  2000 Ninth Avenue South
  Birmingham, AL  United States  35355
• Principal Investigators:

  Husman, George

• Start Date: 20020400
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20071000
• Source Data: RiP Project 8725

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Components; Composite materials; Cost effectiveness; Mass; Public transit; Research projects; Thermoplastic materials; Transit buses; Weight
• Subject Areas: Finance; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I30: Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01460830
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Transit Administration
• Contract Numbers: FTA-AL-26-7001.02
• Files: RiP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 1:33PM