9386-3660 Effman Inc.

Published purpose

effman, a Canadian small enterprise, will collaborate with the NRC to investigate composite design and manufacturing processes that could meet the weight, load capability, durability and cost requirements needed for agricultural vehicles. For applicability and relevance, an actual agricultural structural component will be selected to conduct the design study, using real loading cases and requirements. Various composite design concepts will be investigated (computer aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA)) in order to evaluate the potential of each for mass reduction while meeting load case requirements. A combination of different material systems (such as continuous and discontinuous reinforcements or glass and carbon reinforcements) will be considered, specifically regarding their ability to meet complex load cases as well as their manufacturability requirements. In parallel, a cost analysis of the most promising concepts will be done in order to evaluate their feasibility at an industrial level and from a business perspective (material and manufacturing costs versus component volume). From the FEA analysis, the most promising solutions will be identified and design and manufacturing guidelines will be established. The Project will enable a better understanding of the advantages and limits of using composite materials for demanding applications such as agricultural equipment, and identify potential areas for future research and development activities in the agricultural field.