Battery Support Frame Buckling for Side Collision Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric automobile body structures face challenges in effectively absorbing side collision energy while avoiding interference with the center tunnel, leading to potential bending of the battery support frame and reduced energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
An automobile body structure featuring a battery support frame with a high-strength steel sheet main body, connected to side sills via a linking bracket and upper walls, incorporating weak portions and a cutout to avoid center tunnel interference, allowing for efficient energy absorption during side collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the battery support frame is curved to avoid interference with the center tunnel, then the battery support frame can be disposed above the center tunnel, but the battery support frame is easily bent when collision load is inputted, reducing energy absorption effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The battery support frame is segmented into a main body portion (high strength steel) and weak portions (general steel) at the ends. This segmentation allows the frame to have both high overall strength for structural integrity and localized weak zones that can buckle to absorb collision energy, resolving the contradiction between maintaining frame strength and enabling energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the battery support frame have different material properties: the main body portion uses high strength steel sheet for structural strength, while the weak portions use general steel sheet for controlled deformation. This local quality differentiation allows the frame to simultaneously achieve both structural integrity and energy absorption capability.
2Volume of moving object
If the battery support frame is made straight to maximize battery space, then the battery space is maximized, but the frame interferes with the center tunnel
Solution Approach 1:
A cutout is extracted from the lower face of the main body portion of the battery support frame. This cutout removes the interfering part of the frame that would otherwise conflict with the center tunnel, allowing the frame to be disposed straight above the center tunnel while maximizing battery space.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout is provided on the lower face of the main body portion, utilizing the vertical dimension to resolve the spatial conflict between the battery support frame and the center tunnel, allowing both to coexist without interference.
3Strength
If the main body portion is made from high strength steel sheet to increase strength, then the strength is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery support frame uses different materials for different portions: high strength steel sheet for the main body portion requiring strength, and general steel sheet for the weak portions allowing deformation. This local quality approach achieves the required strength without making the entire structure complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery support frame is constructed as a composite structure combining high strength steel sheet and general steel sheet in different portions. This composite material approach allows the frame to achieve both high strength where needed and controlled deformation where required, without excessive structural complexity.
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
The structure effectively supports collision loads, prevents warping, and maximizes battery space by allowing the battery support frame to buckle, enhancing energy absorption and protecting the battery during side collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the battery support frame comprises a high strength steel sheet main body portion
Implementation Method 2
the left and right weak portions are formed from a general steel sheet that is weaker than the main body portion... enabling the battery support frame to buckle, enhancing energy absorption
Implementation Method 3
the main body portion and the floor panel are connected via a linking bracket
Implementation Method 4
a cutout is provided in a lower face of the main body portion, the cutout being for avoiding interference with the center tunnel
Data Source
AI summary
In an automobile body structure, since a floor panel disposed beneath left and right side sills and a battery support frame includes a center tunnel protruding upwardly and extending in the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction, and a main body portion of the battery support frame and the floor panel are connected via a linking bracket, it is possible to reinforce the battery support frame with the floor panel and prevent the battery support frame from warping into an arc shape and being bent by the collision load of a side collision and, moreover, since even if the battery support frame is formed into a straight line shape, interference with the center tunnel can be avoided, it is possible to reliably make the battery support frame buckle when the collision load of a side collision is inputted thereinto, thus enhancing the ability to absorb the energy of a collision.