Resumen: This article presents the experimental–numerical analysis carried out in order to achieve a new automotive component, consisting of a C-pillar constituted by sandwich structure made of steel skins and a rigid foam core. The objective was to achieve a lighter component than the corresponding reference configuration, yet fulfilling mechanical requirements related to stiffness and strength. In fact, the new C-pillar should be at least stiffer and stronger than the reference component. In addition, the final price of the new C-pillar should be in the same range as the price of the initial component, which made it impossible to apply expensive materials such as carbon fiber composite materials. Idioma: Inglés DOI: 10.1177/1099636220909947 Año: 2020 Publicado en: JOURNAL OF SANDWICH STRUCTURES & MATERIALS 23, 6 (2020), 2586-2613 ISSN: 1099-6362 Factor impacto JCR: 5.497 (2020) Categ. JCR: ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL rank: 11 / 133 = 0.083 (2020) - Q1 - T1 Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, CHARACTERIZATION & TESTING rank: 2 / 32 = 0.062 (2020) - Q1 - T1 Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES rank: 8 / 28 = 0.286 (2020) - Q2 - T1 Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.913 - Ceramics and Composites (Q1) - Mechanics of Materials (Q1) - Mechanical Engineering (Q1)