Research Prize for Advancements in Material Behavior during Crashes

Chongyang Zeng from the Chair for Automotive Lightweight Design has improved on a process for measuring the behavior of materials under crash loads. His work earned him first place at the “ZwickRoell Science Award,” an international research prize.

During a car crash, passenger safety relies strongly on the chassis of the vehicle surviving the impact as intact as possible. To achieve this, the materials of a vehicle's components are intensively tested in advance. The problem: The vibrations that occur during an actual high-speed crash make it difficult to measure the forces precisely. Vehicle makers at the University of Siegen have developed a solution to this problem: they shape the material samples into a special geometric form – thereby redistributing the energies during the experiment so that disruptive vibrations are eliminated and accurate results are achieved. Chongyang Zeng has further advanced this already patented method. In recognition of his work, the early-career researcher has been awarded first place in the “ZwickRoell Science Award,” an international research prize.

“I am thrilled to earn this award, which saw applications from 160 scientists from more than 35 countries. Being selected as first place among so many applicants is a wonderful surprise and at the same time a recognition of the research at our teaching chair,” said Chongyang Zeng, who previously completed his master’s degree in Metallurgy at RWTH Aachen.

The study for which he is now being honored is part of his doctoral thesis within a research project on crash simulations funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). In his work, Zeng has developed additional geometric sample forms with different stress conditions that enable precise force measurements. Moreover, he has discovered new principles and implemented them in a physical method for vibration-free force measurement. “With this enhanced measurement method, we can now predict even more accurately whether various steels considered for the production of body components can withstand the stresses of crashes,” explained the chair holder, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Xiangfan Fang from the University of Siegen.

In automotive lightweight engineering, such precise measurement methods are of particular importance for building the most lightweight vehicles possible. They aid in determining exactly how much the material thickness of the components can be reduced without compromising the material’s strength. The DFG project, in which researchers from the University of Siegen are collaborating with colleagues from RWTH Aachen, will continue for another year. During this time, efforts will include making the advanced measurement methods practically applicable.

The ZwickRoell Science Award is presented annually to researchers who have produced outstanding scientific work in the field of mechanical materials testing. The first prize is endowed with 5,000 euros and Chongyang Zeng will also receive the Paul Roell Medal for his achievement. The award ceremony will be held in October in Ulm.

Contact:
Professor Xiangfan Fang (Chair for Automotive Lightweight Engineering)
Email: Xiangfan.fang@uni-siegen.de
Tel.: +49 271- 740 4670