Andreas Obieglo

The turbosteamer: A system introducing the principle of cogeneration in automotive applications

BMW’s turbosteamer is the first system to use the potential of waste heat in order to enhance the efficiency of the combustion process in the automobile. Applying the principle of cogeneration, fuel consumption can be reduced in a four-cylinder spark ignition engine by more than 10 per cent or, conversely, power and performance may be increased accordingly under relevant stationary operating conditions.

The Potential of a Clinch-Lock Polymer Metal Hybrid Technology for Use in Load-Bearing Automotive Components

In order to help meet the needs of automotive original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers for a cost-effective, robust, reliable polymer-metal-hybrid (PMH) technology which can be used for the manufacturing of load-bearing body-in-white (BIW) components and which is compatible with the current BIW manufacturing process chain, a new approach, the so-called direct-adhesion PMH technology, was recently proposed (Grujicic et al., J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2008, 195, p 282-298). Within this approach, the necessary level of polymer-to-metal mechanical interconnectivity is attained through direct adhesion and mechanical interlocking. In the present work, a new concept for mechanical interlocking between the metal and plastics is proposed and analyzed computationally. The approach utilizes some of the ideas used in the spot-clinching joining process and is appropriately named clinch-lock PMH technology. To assess the potential of the clinch-lock approach for providing the required level of metal/polymer mechanical interlocking, a set of finite-element based sheet-metal forming, injection molding and structural mechanics analyses was carried out. The results obtained show that stiffness and buckling resistance levels can be attained which are comparable with those observed in the competing injection overmolding PMH process but with an ~3% lower weight (of the polymer subcomponent) and without the need for holes and for overmolding of the free edges of the metal stamping.

Der Turbosteamer: Ein System zur Kraft- Wärme-Kopplung im Automobil

Mit dem Turbosteamer stellt BMW erstmals das Potenzial der Abwarmenutzung zur Wirkungsgradverbesserung von Verbrennungskraftmaschinen im Automobilbereich dar. Durch Kraft-Warme-Kopplung werden bei einem Vierzylinder-Ottomotor Verbrauchseinsparungen von mehr als 10 % oder entsprechende Leistungssteigerungen in relevanten stationaren Betriebspunkten erreicht.

Investigation of a polymer metal inter‐locking technology for use in load‐bearing automotive components

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose and analyse computationally a new concept for mechanical interlocking between metal and plastics. The approach utilizes some of the ideas used in the spot‐clinching joining process and is appropriately named “clinch‐lock polymer metal hybrid (PMH) technology.”Design/methodology/approach – A new approach, the so‐called “direct‐adhesion” PMH technology, is recently proposed Grujicic et al. to help meet the needs of automotive original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers for a cost‐effective, robust, reliable PMH technology which can be used for the manufacturing of load‐bearing body‐in‐white (BIW) components and which is compatible with the current BIW manufacturing‐process chain. Within this approach, the necessary level of polymer‐to‐metal mechanical interconnectivity is attained through direct adhesion and mechanical interlocking.Findings – In an attempt to fully assess the potential of the clinch‐lock approach for providing the required level of ...