Exercise 2. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the Participle

1. Composite suspension components such as control arms need to be as lightweight as possible to reduce durabilityand noise issuescaused by large unsprang mass.

2. Race cars and exotic sports car prototypes featuring mass - efficient carbon-fiber bodies started to appear.

3. Unlike the linear operation of a conventional fixed-flow pump, the volume of oil being pumped varies with rpm.

4. Sandwich composites are becoming more and more popular in structural design, mainly for their ability to substantially decrease weight while maintaining mechanical performance.

5.This weight reduction results in a number of benefits, including increased range, higher payloads and decreased fuel consumption.

Text 3 A. Progress in Fiber Reinforced Resin Composite Technology

1. The lightweight but strong and stiff com­posites of fiber-reinforced resin had already made the transition from military aircraft structures to civilian ones,and race cars and exotic sports car prototypes featuring mass - efficient carbon-fiber bodies had started to appear. Yes, composites were still too expen­sive, but many experts believed that continued technical advancement would in due time yield low-cost, mass-produced auto chassis and bodies that could save fuel while enabling new designs that were never previously possible. That trend seems poised to change direction, however. Car structures are still made primarily of steel and other metals, and are likely to stay so for the foreseeable future. But many auto engineers are starting to realize the benefits of advancements in polymer composite technology to convince the auto industry that composites are up to the challenge.

Composites save weight

2. Potential weight savingsoffered by structural composite ma­terials are significant. Estimates of the relative weight savings and costs that could be achieved by replacing steel with current carbon-fiber- reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs) range from 50 to 60% at two to ten times the cost. Substituting glass-fiber-reinforced polymer composites (GFRPCs) for steel could cut weight by a quarter to a third with a comparatively modest— 50%—cost rise. Composites can do the job, but it is a differ­ent material that requires careful predictive analysis as well as design with its special behavior in mind. Using finite elementanalysis, engi­neers designed the component to exhibit stiffness as well as modal and crash performance equivalent to that of a steel structure.

A new composites fabrication line

3. An even more ambitious effort is being mounted by MAG Industrial Automation Systems ¹, headquartered in Basic materials research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is focus­ing on waysto reduce the cost of carbon-fiber precursors such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), or lignin. Another pressing need is for lighter-weight interior cross­barbeams under the dashboard and in the floor, which are intended to pass crash energy from side impacts across to the other side of the vehicle to share the load. Composites might find early application in these tubular crossbeams. In addition, composite suspension components such as control arms could also find application. These parts need to be as lightweight as possible to reduce durabilityand noise issuescaused by large unsprang mass.

Notes:MAG - a group of leading machine tool and systems companies.

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Exercise 3. Complete the sentences

	Strong and lightweight composites	a	realize the benefits of composite technology.
	Many auto engineers	b	find application in civilian structures.
	Structural composite materials	c	to reduce durability and noise issues.
	Glass-fiber reinforced composites	d	equivalent to that of a steel structure.
	Composite suspension components should be lightweight	e	interior crossbar beams intended to pass crash energy.
	Composites exhibit stiffness	f	cut weight by a quarter.
	Composites can be used in	g	offer weight savings.

Exercise 4.Answer the following questions. Find the answers in the right column.

	Why are composite materials up to the challenge?	a	steel and other metals
	What are car structures still made of?	b	weight reduction and cost savings
	What are the benefits of advancements in polymer composite technology?	c	could yield low-cost auto chassis and bodies
	What are the potential weight savings offered by structural composite materials?	d	stiffness equivalent to that of steel structure
	What stiffness could composite materials have?	e	weight savings range from 50 to 60%
	Why should composites find application in suspension components?	g	the lightweight parts reduce durability and noise issues

Exercise 5. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of different materials in car body design.