Master Thesis Work Find a verification test for inlay carpets that simulates the "taxi test''

About this opportunity - Background

At Vehicle Engineering our responsibility spans the entire chassis interior climate body & exterior functions mechanical Integration and a range of vehicle attributes with impact on design and customer experience of our complete product. Across these domains and all development cycles we will lead an effective delivery operation on a complete level in close sync with other Engineering units functions and stakeholders across the company.

This thesis work is within the area of Floor System at Interior Trim & Material.

The taxi test is a test performed to verify the longevity of inlay carpets. These tests are performed passively over a long time where an inlay mat is put in a taxi used for around 1.5 years to then returned and evaluated. Taxi tests are inaccessible time-consuming and results vary depending on the person testing the rug; and therefore no clear normal distribution can be drawn. An alternative is the Taber Abrasion test measuring how much material is worn off after a number of load cycles. This standardized test is good for gathering quantitative data. It uses single dimension abrasion does not take in other materials (shoes dirt fluids etc.) or weather factors but therefore does not provide a realistic wear and tear result.

In todays fast-paced automotive industry a new accelerated life testing method should be developed that can simulate the real use environment of an inlay carpet but in a much shorter time than the taxi test but with a more realistic result than the Taber test. It should be able to adjust for a varying target group have a reproducible result and be representative and robust.

Scope of the thesis work

Develop a test method for inlay carpets simulating the taxi test. Mainly wear and tear under the pedals.

What youll bring

Mechanical engineering requirement handling technical documentation product development textile longevity industrial design and material education. A driver licence B is a merit. Work is expected to be done on-site mainly.

Duration

Tentative proposed thesis work period: 19th January 2026 to 26th of June 2026 (dates can be flexible with /- 7 days)
Academic credits: equivalent to 30 ECTS
Number of students: 1-2 students per project (2 preferred)