Body Side Panel Rib Clearance for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing body side panels with impact-absorbing members fail to effectively absorb impact energy due to uneven striking of the outer panel against ribs during side collisions, leading to insufficient impact absorption.
Innovation Solution
A body side panel design featuring metal panels reinforced with a resin member, where link ribs extend along the edges of the center pillar and sill portions, forming a monocoque structure, with specific clearances between the ribs and metal panels to absorb impact energy in two stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ribs are arranged at equal intervals in the center pillar, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the outer panel strikes unevenly against the ribs during side collision, resulting in insufficient impact absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the clearances between ribs different at different locations. Specifically, the clearance at the lower end of the center pillar is made smaller than the clearance at the upper end, creating localized density variations that guide the impact force distribution and improve energy absorption effectiveness while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by configuring the rib clearances to be non-uniform along the vertical direction of the center pillar. The lower end has a smaller clearance while the upper end has a larger clearance, breaking the symmetric arrangement to optimize impact absorption characteristics and prevent uneven striking during side collisions
2Reliability
If the clearance from link ribs to the other metal panel is made smaller, then impact energy is absorbed more effectively by the link ribs, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the clearance parameter between link ribs and the other metal panel. The clearance is set to be smaller at the lower end of the center pillar compared to the upper end, creating a gradient that optimizes impact energy absorption while remaining within manufacturable precision limits
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
Enhances the impact-absorbing function by allowing the resin member's link ribs to primarily absorb energy, followed by the intersection ribs, effectively distributing and managing impact forces across the panel, thereby improving safety and rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
in case of side collision, impact energy is absorbed by deformation of the ribs
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a body side panel body side panel (BP) including one metal panel (PI); another metal panel (P2) that forms a space (A) between the one metal panel (P1) and the other metal panel (P2); a resin member (R) that is molded integrally with the one metal panel (P1). The resin member (R) includes link ribs (11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B) that continuously extend respectively along a front edge and a rear edge of a center pillar portion (CP), and along an upper edge and a lower edge of a sill portion (SL), and includes a lower intersection rib (14) that is arranged in an intersection region where a lower end portion of the center pillar portion (CP) and the sill portion (SL) intersect with each other. A clearance (S1) from a distal end portion of each of the link ribs (11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B) to the other metal panel (P2) is smaller than a clearance (S2) from a distal end portion of the intersection rib (14) to the other metal panel (P2). Impact energy in case of side collision is released in two steps. With this, an impact absorbing function is enhanced.