Vehicle Center Pillar Inclined Section Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body center pillar designs require weight-increasing reinforcements to prevent cracks during lateral collisions, which compromise impact energy absorption and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A center pillar design with an inclined fragile section that absorbs impact energy by deforming along a virtual line, minimizing weight increase while enhancing energy absorption through strategic panel overlaps and reinforcing member configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforcing members are added to the center pillar to suppress crack occurrence during lateral collisions, then reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the outer panel by forming an inclined section with a specific slope angle (15-45 degrees) and positioning it to face the opening section. This parameter change allows the structure to absorb impact energy through controlled deformation along the inclined section, eliminating the need for additional reinforcing members and thus avoiding weight increase while maintaining crack suppression reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new spatial dimension by creating an inclined section that extends in the forward-rearward direction of the vehicle body, rather than only in the vertical direction. This dimensional change allows the deformation path to extend horizontally, increasing the energy absorption length without adding vertical height or requiring additional reinforcing members, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If the opening section is enlarged to accommodate seatbelt components, then adaptability is improved, but bending strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined section acts as an intermediary element between the opening section and the upper section of the outer panel. It mediates the stress distribution by providing a gradual transition zone that redirects impact forces away from the opening section edges, thereby maintaining bending strength while allowing the opening section to be sufficiently large for seatbelt component accommodation
3Reliability
If reinforcing members are added to joint portions to suppress crack occurrence, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the crack suppression function with the existing outer panel structure by forming the inclined section as an integrated feature of the outer panel itself. This eliminates the need for separate reinforcing members at joint portions, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability through the inclined section's energy absorption capability
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 design effectively absorbs impact energy by lengthening cracks along the inclined fragile section, ensuring increased energy absorption without weight penalties and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
When a load is input to this center pillar due to, for example, a lateral collision, the center pillar is bent and deformed along an inclined fragile section (107) toward the interior of the vehicle body width direction
Implementation Method 2
A tensile load acts in a vertical direction on a peripheral edge (32c) of the opening section along a virtual line (120) that is inclined upward or downward in the forward-rearward direction of the vehicle body. Thus, the peripheral edge (32c) of the opening section (96) is cracked and broken along the virtual line (120)
Data Source
AI summary
A lateral section structure (10) of a vehicle body is equipped with a center pillar (14) which extends in a vertical direction and in which an outer panel (31) and an inner panel (32) are joined. An opening section (96) into which a seatbelt component (50) is inserted is formed in the inner panel. The outer panel has a lower section and an upper section. The lower section forms a lower portion of the outer panel. The upper section overlaps the lower section and extends upward. A lower end of the upper section is inclined upward or downward in a forward-rearward direction of a vehicle body along a lower end of an overlapping section in which the lower section and the upper section overlap and are joined to each other, and is disposed at a position at which the lower end of the upper section faces the opening section.