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Three lightweight vehicles in white, yellow and silver.

Lightweight Technology Center

Fast facts

Location & room
Campus Sonnenstraße B -103
Organizational unit
Mechanical engineering

Profile

The Lightweight Technology Center LTC at Fachhochschule Dortmund uses the finite element method (FEM) to analyse and optimize the strength, vibration, crash and flow behaviour of automotive engineering, mechanical engineering and civil engineering components. The focus of these activities is the lightweight development of vehicles and their components. Parameter, shape, topology and topography optimization are used here. In addition to commercial CAD and FEM software (CATIA, Creo, SOLIDWORKS, HyperWorks, NASTRAN, PERMAS), the in-house developed FEM system OPIUM and a rapid prototyping machine are also used. The research focus is on the development of the lightweight vehicle eLTeC from the idea to the ready-to-run prototype. Recumbent tricycles, e-bikes, e-trikes, a class L2e electric city vehicle and a type B e-kart made of steel, aluminum, GFRP and CFRP are available for testing purposes.

A picture of the Lightweight Construction Technology Center with work tables on which monitors are placed. In the center of the lab and on the right wall are display cases with exhibits from vehicle development. At the front right is a recumbent tricycle, at the back of the lab are an electric go-kart and a Pedersen bicycle with electric drive.

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A student is sitting in front of two monitors. The right-hand monitor shows a 2-seater electric city vehicle with gullwing doors in vehicle class L2e with bodywork. A 3D FEM model of the vehicle can be seen on the left-hand monitor.

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A Pedersen bicycle made of CFRP and aluminum with an electric drive via a mid-mounted motor stands in front of a wall in the Lightweight Technology Center. There is a shelf in the background and a whiteboard on the wall.

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Two students are standing at a desk in front of two monitors showing FEM simulations of a motorcycle fork.

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Equipment

PCs, 3D printers, fuel cells, vehicle technology exhibits, lightweight vehicles, FEM systems, CAD systems

Service & Offer

Development of lightweight construction concepts

Counseling and support for lightweight construction projects
Structural optimization (parameter, shape, topology and topography optimization)
Optimization of fibre composite structures made of GRP and CFRP
Carrying out all types of FEM calculations
FEM training (HyperWorks, Femap)
Counseling in the targeted selection of FEM systems
Prototype production using the rapid prototyping process
Development of lightweight vehicles
Counseling on the use of electric vehicles
Use of fuel cells as range extenders for electric vehicles
Answering questions on statics, strength calculations and dynamics

Counseling and assistance is offered for all of the above.