The use of lightweight alloys in vehicles will significantly increase fuel efficiency and cut emissions, but the auto industry lacks data and material models needed to reliably manufacture vehicle components from lightweight metals, including aluminum alloys and high-strength steels. Because of computer models based on insufficient measurements, the U.S. auto industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars per year reworking metal forming dies that do not make correct parts.

Our objective is to develop the measurement methodology, standards and analysis necessary for the U.S. auto industry and base metal suppliers to transition to advanced lightweight materials for auto body components without wasteful empirical knowledge development, and successfully transfer this technology to our customers in industry. With this knowledge, the U.S. automotive industry will be able to transition to new advanced and lightweight materials more easily, as more accurate data and material models will lead to more accurate die designs, reducing die tryouts and new model development costs. 

We welcome ideas for collaborations with industrial, academic and national lab organizations that make use of our unique experimental capabilities.

WORKSHOP UPDATE (5-10-13) - Companies and others sending attendees to the workshop:

• GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda
  
• US Steel, Severstal, Thyssen-Krupp, Arcelor-Mittal, AK Steel, Nucor
  
• ALCOA, Novelis
• PPG, DuPont, Dow Chemical, SABIC
  
• AMNPO/AMTech, US Army, DOE-EERE, NSF, ONR, ORNL, DOC, OSTP, State of Michigan Economic Development Corp
  
• The Ohio State University, Northwestern University, University of Colorado - Denver, University of New Hampshire, Wayne State University, Clemson University, Colorado School of Mines, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Michigan State University
  
• Correlated Solutions, Livermore Software Technology Corp (LSTC), MTS Systems, TribSys, Proto Manufacturing
  
• AISI