Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Joung Min Choi

Julien P Mourou

Bradley Allen Newcomb

Giles D Bryer

Thomas S Prevost

Mark A Stebbins

Bradley Leier

A roof for a vehicle upper body structure includes a body extending between a first side and a second side, and between a front end and a back end. The front end is configured to be coupled to a header. The body includes a polymer and a plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the body has a transparency of greater than 0% to less than or equal to about 20%. A header for a vehicle upper body structure includes an elongated body extending between a first side and a second side, a front end that is configured to be coupled to a windshield, and a back end that is configured to be coupled to a roof. The body includes a polymer and a plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the body has a transparency of greater than 0% to less than or equal to about 20%.

Transparent composite for a vehicle roof

The present disclosure provides a roof for a vehicle upper body structure. The roof includes a body extending between a first side and a second side, and extending between a front end and a back end. The front end is configured to be coupled to a header. The body includes a polymer and a plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the body has a transparency of greater than or equal to about 4%.

Presented are multilayer composite panels for motor vehicles, methods for making/using such panels, and motor vehicles with transparent composite roof panels having localized reinforcement features. A sandwich-type multilayer composite panel contains one or more exterior layers each including a transparent rigid material, one or more bonding layers each including a transparent adhesive material, and one or more structural reinforcement layers each including a fiber-reinforced polymer material. Each structural reinforcement layer may be attached directly to a bonding layer and/or exterior layer. The composite panel may also include one or more IR-reflective layers, one or more light-absorbing sunshade layers, and one or more insulating low-k layers. The multilayer body panel has a plan-view profile; the individual layers extend substantially the entire length and width of the plan area, whereas the fibers in each structural reinforcement layer are localized to one or more discrete regions within the plan-view profile.

Transparent composite body panels with localized structural reinforcements for motor vehicles

The present disclosure provides a header for a vehicle upper body structure. The header includes an elongated body extending between a first side and a second side. The elongated body includes a polymer and a plurality of fibers. The elongated body includes a front end and a back end. The front end is configured to be coupled to a windshield. The back end is configured to be coupled to a roof. At least a portion of the elongated body has a transparency of greater than or equal to about 4%.

Transparent composite for a vehicle header

Presented are multilayer composite panels for motor vehicles, methods for making/using such panels, and motor vehicles with transparent composite roof panels having localized reinforcement features. A sandwich-type multilayer composite panel contains one or more exterior layers each including a transparent rigid material, one or more bonding layers each including a transparent adhesive material, and one or more structural reinforcement layers each including a fiber-reinforced polymer material. Each structural reinforcement layer may be attached directly to a bonding layer and/or exterior layer. The composite panel may also include one or more IR-reflective layers, one or more light-absorbing sunshade layers, and one or more insulating low-k layers. The fibers of each structural reinforcement layer are localized to a discrete region within the composite panel's plan-view profile. This region has laterally spaced side rails extending along the length of the multilayer body panel, and one or more transverse crossmembers connecting the side rails.

Laminate composite roof panels with internal localized structural reinforcements for motor vehicles

Presented are fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite components for vehicle body structures, methods for making/using such components, and motor vehicles equipped with such components. A vehicle body structure includes one or more elongated support rails (e.g., a pair of lateral roof rails) each with an inner contoured rail panel joined to an outer contoured rail panel to define an internal rail cavity. One or more elongated support pillars (e.g., front, side, and/or back vehicle pillars) adjoin the support rail(s) and each includes an inner contoured pillar panel joined to an outer contoured pillar panel to define an internal pillar cavity coupled to the internal rail cavity. One or both contoured pillar panels and one or both contoured rail panels is/are formed, in whole or in part, from an FRP material. A structural reinforcement insert may be located inside the adjoined pillar and rail, filling a discrete region within the internal cavities.

Fiber-reinforced polymer composite components for vehicle body structures and methods of making the same

Presented are structurally reinforced components for vehicle body structures, methods for making/using such components, and motor vehicles equipped with such components. A vehicle body structure includes an elongated support rail (e.g., a pair of lateral roof rails) with an inner contoured rail panel joined to an outer contoured rail panel to define an internal rail cavity. An elongated support pillar (e.g., front, side, and/or back vehicle pillars) adjoins the support rail and includes an inner contoured pillar panel joined to an outer contoured pillar panel to define an internal pillar cavity coupled to the internal rail cavity. The inner rail and pillar panels may be integrally from as a single-piece structure, and the outer rail and pillar panels may be integrally from as a single-piece structure. A structural reinforcement insert is located inside the support pillar and support rail, filling a discrete region within the rail cavity and pillar cavity.

Locally reinforced foam-filled composite components for vehicle body structures and methods of making the same

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes: a body; a drive system configured to propel the body; and a front motor compartment formed within the body, the front motor compartment including: a first shock tower; a second shock tower; and a structural integration brace for a vehicle, including: a first end attached to a first shock tower of the vehicle; and a second end attached to a second shock tower of the vehicle; wherein the structural integration brace extends between the first end and the second end, generating a load path therebetween within the front motor compartment of the vehicle.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Joung Min Choi