Bumper End Hollow Profile for Crash Energy Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bumper arrangements for motor vehicles do not adequately enhance crash characteristics, particularly in the end region, leading to insufficient energy dissipation and potential tire penetration during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A bumper arrangement featuring a main crossmember and auxiliary crossmember coupled by vertical struts, with a vertically oriented hollow profile having a closed cross-section, which extends laterally beyond the crash boxes, providing additional deformation and energy dissipation through a larger impact surface and synchronized deformation behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bumper arrangement uses conventional crossmembers coupled to crash boxes, then the basic crash energy dissipation function is fulfilled, but the crash characteristics in the end region are insufficient and tire penetration may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper arrangement is divided into multiple functional segments: main crossmembers for structural support, crash boxes for primary energy absorption, and end portions with hollow profiles for enhanced end-region protection. Each segment performs a specific crash management function, preventing tire penetration while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow profile extends in the transverse direction beyond the crash boxes, adding a lateral dimension to the crash energy dissipation path. This allows the end portion to engage with the wheel arch and tire in a multi-dimensional manner, creating additional deformation paths that prevent direct tire penetration into the vehicle structure.
2Area of stationary object
If the main crossmember and auxiliary crossmember extend over the full vehicle width, then the structural coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crossmembers are designed with controlled deformation characteristics, allowing them to dynamically adjust during impact. The hollow profile in the end portions provides synchronized deformation behavior that adapts to the crash scenario, maintaining structural coverage without requiring overly complex rigid structures throughout the entire width.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the bumper arrangement have optimized local properties: the central region uses crash boxes for energy absorption, while the end regions use hollow profiles for lateral protection. This localized optimization achieves full width coverage with appropriate functionality in each zone without uniformly increasing complexity across the entire structure.
3Loss of energy
If the hollow profile is added to the end region, then the energy dissipation capability is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow profile is produced by extrusion, which allows for efficient manufacturing of the complex cross-sectional geometry. By optimizing the extrusion parameters and profile design, the manufacturing complexity is minimized while maximizing the energy dissipation capability through the closed cross-section geometry that provides controlled deformation characteristics.
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 arrangement effectively dissipates crash energy by deforming the hollow profile against the wheel arch and wheel, preventing tire penetration and ensuring stable deformation of the crossmembers, while maintaining structural integrity and preventing sliding under the wheel.
Implementation Method 1
The cross section of the hollow profile deforms upon impact against the wheel arch, and also the wheel, and here dissipates crash energy through deformation work
Implementation Method 2
the crash boxes fold, for example, in the manner of a concertina and thus convert crash energy into deformation work
Data Source
AI summary
A bumper arrangement relating to a motor vehicle, having an upper main crossmember, which is able to be coupled to the motor vehicle by way of crash boxes, and a lower auxiliary crossmember wherein the main crossmember and the auxiliary crossmember are coupled to one another by way of vertical struts, wherein the bumper arrangement extends over at least 70% of the vehicle width, and in that the main crossmember and the auxiliary crossmember have end portions which protrude laterally in the motor vehicle transverse direction with respect to the crash boxes. A vertically oriented hollow profile is arranged in an outer portion of the end region.