Experimental analysis of a SMC truck bumper

Over the last decade the use of composite materials in automotive industries has increased considerably. Relatively low cost, good stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and design flexibility are properties that make them attractive. Although steel is still widely used in automobile body panels, many companies are developing the technology needed to expand the use of these materials. Polyester sheet moulding compound is the material preferred. FIAT-IVECO is one company that some years ago decided to expand the use of SMC to its full line of trucks. The object of this paper is the static analysis of a SMC truck bumper manufactured by FIAT-IVECO. To analyse the structural behaviour two different experimental techniques were used: holographic interferometry and centesimal comparators. The experimental results were then compared with numerical data obtained from a finite element model of the bumper.