Construction of Transportation Means - Decreasing Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Gas Emissions in Transportation - page 39

tail unit with
horizontal stabiliser

fuselage
(electric, pneumatic,
hydraulic system,
air condition,
lighting, emergency
equipment)

tail unit with
vertical stabiliser

engine and nacelle

landing gear

wing and
connecting parts

Fig. 3.3 Main structural elements of airplanes

3.1.3 Influence of Light Weight Construction
on Fuel Consumption

Tendencies in light weight construction are decreasing fuel consumption and
exhaust gas emissions. Although new development has resulted in alternative
materials, conventional steel sheets are still primarily used for the construction of
the vehicle's body. Alternative materials cannot replace steel yet because of its
mechanical qualities of resistance, strength and plasticity as well as its cost. The
practical way to reduce weight is to use smaller thicknesses and higher quality
steel. The steel sheets that are currently used, are between 0.6 and 1.0 mm (0.024-
0.039 in). High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel is used for construction, which
allows the use of thinner metal sheets also in stressed structural parts [ 21 ].
Since 1994, aluminum bodies have been used for serial production of higher
priced vehicles by stamping profiles out of aluminum. Today, aluminum can be
used to reduce the weight of specific body parts like the hood, and the trunk lids,
etc. The development is requiring more suitable aluminum-based alloys, new
production methods, and special repair facilities. Some physical properties such as
resistance, deformation, and distortion qualities of high strength aluminum alloys
are equal or similar to the qualities of steel sheets, so they can be more and more
optimally used in a lot of parts of a vehicle's construction [ 22 ].
Light plastic materials are increasingly being used in vehicle construction. New
''self-strengthening'' plastics could allow the cars to be constructed using recy-
clable polypropylene plastic [ 23 ].
However, higher safety rules require a well-balanced compromise between
minimizing construction weight and maintaining the commercial and operational
competitiveness of passenger cars and LDVs. Safety is the sum of smooth driving,
tight steering, optimal suspension, and brakes resulting in the high quality per-
formance of the vehicle [ 24 ].