Curved Vehicle Bumper Beam for Even Crash Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing vehicle body structures, the bumper beam does not transmit crash loads evenly to the side members during a laterally offset collision, leading to uneven deformation of the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure with a laterally extending bumper beam featuring a middle part and end parts that curve outward, distributing crash loads evenly to the side members, and a load transmitting member with a closed cross section to resist deformation and prevent objects from riding over the bumper beam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the bumper beam has a straight shape or simple curvature, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the crash load is not transmitted evenly to the side members during offset collision
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper beam is designed with specific curvature characteristics: the end parts curve outward with a concave side facing outward, and the middle part has a convex side facing outward. This curved geometry redirects crash loads from offset points toward the center, ensuring even load distribution to both side members while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes.
2Strength
If the end parts of the bumper beam curve inward, then the structural strength is increased, but the crash load concentration occurs at the middle point of end parts
Solution Approach 1:
The end parts are designed with outward curvature (concave side facing outward) rather than inward curvature. This geometric configuration distributes crash loads along the curved path toward the middle part, preventing stress concentration at the end part middle points while maintaining overall structural strength through the curved geometry.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bumper beam upper surface is flat, then the manufacturing is simpler, but objects can ride over the bumper beam during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The middle part of the bumper beam features a convex upper surface facing outward, creating a curved profile that prevents colliding objects from riding over the beam. This curvature design maintains manufacturing simplicity while effectively stopping objects, as the rounded profile naturally deflects impacting objects without requiring additional structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A bumper beam of a vehicle body structure (1) is provided with a laterally extending laterally middle part (55) and a pair of end parts (56) each extending from a corresponding lateral end of the middle part in an outboard direction with a certain inward slant with respect to a fore and aft direction, and each end part curves at a laterally middle point thereof so as to have a concave side facing outward with respect to the fore and aft direction.