Battery Pack Support Structure for Side Collision Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle designs face challenges in managing collision loads transmitted to the sidewall of a battery pack during side collisions, as the energy absorption member can apply relatively large loads on the battery pack sidewall.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design incorporates an energy absorption member with a protrusion that protrudes inwardly toward a support on the battery pack, distributing collision loads through the protrusion to the support, thereby reducing the load on the sidewall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the energy absorption member is positioned to face the battery pack sidewall, then collision energy can be absorbed, but relatively large collision load is applied on the battery pack sidewall
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion on the energy absorption member acts as an intermediary element that contacts the support on the lower wall of the battery pack rather than the sidewall directly. This mediator structure redirects the collision load path from the sidewall to the lower wall support, reducing the force applied to the battery pack sidewall while maintaining effective energy absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The contact point is shifted from a vertical contact (EA member sidewall to battery pack sidewall) to a horizontal contact arrangement (protrusion tip to support on lower wall). This dimensional change in the contact geometry redirects the load path through the support structure, reducing concentrated load on the battery pack sidewall
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively absorbs collision energy by distributing the load to the support, minimizing localized concentration on the battery pack sidewall and enhancing the energy absorption capacity of the member.
Implementation Method 1
when side collision occurs to the vehicle, the EA member deforms, by which collision energy is absorbed
Implementation Method 2
collision load applied on the EA member is transmitted to the support disposed on the lower wall of the battery pack via the protrusion
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle may include a vehicle body including a floor panel, a battery pack located below the floor panel and an energy absorption member located outwardly from the battery pack in a vehicle width direction and fixing the battery pack to the vehicle body. A support that protrudes downwardly may be disposed on a lower wall of the battery pack. The energy absorption member may include a protrusion that protrudes inwardly in the vehicle width direction toward the support. A tip end of the protrusion may include a contact surface being in contact with a side surface of the support in the vehicle width direction.