Vehicle Body Dash Cross Member Floor Tunnel Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body structures lack continuity of closed cross sections formed by dash cross members across the floor tunnel, which affects the structural stiffness and collision energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure with a dash cross member on the vehicle interior side, a groove-shaped floor tunnel, and corner patches extending along the floor tunnel's ridge portions, where the dash cross member and corner patches are joined to ensure continuous closed cross sections, enhancing structural continuity and collision resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the panel closed-cross-section forming member is provided on the vehicle interior side of the dash lower panel and the tunnel closed-cross-section forming member is provided on the side of the floor tunnel opposite from the vehicle interior, then the closed cross sections are formed on both sides of the floor tunnel, but the closed cross sections have no continuity across the floor tunnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by integrating the panel closed-cross-section forming member and tunnel closed-cross-section forming member into a single continuous dash cross member that spans across the floor tunnel. This unified structure eliminates the discontinuity problem while maintaining structural stiffness, as the continuous member provides uninterrupted load paths across the tunnel region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the continuous dash cross member into distinct functional portions: a panel closed-cross-section forming portion on the vehicle interior side and a tunnel closed-cross-section forming portion on the floor tunnel side. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall continuity through the joint connection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the dash cross member is extended to range continuously from the floor tunnel to both vehicle-widthwise sides, then the closed cross section continuity is improved, but the complexity of joining the dash cross member with the floor tunnel structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a joint structure that serves as a mediator between the dash cross member and the floor tunnel. This joint acts as an intermediate connection element that simplifies the joining process while ensuring proper load transfer and structural continuity, reducing the overall complexity of the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint structure is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a mechanical connector and a structural element that maintains the closed cross-section continuity. This universal design reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby simplifying the overall joining structure while achieving the continuity goal.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body structure has: a dash cross member on a front wall section of a vehicle interior, and forming a closed cross section extending in a vehicle width direction; a floor tunnel on a vehicle-widthwise center section of the vehicle interior, formed in a groove shape opened to a lower side, and extending in a front-rear direction; a corner patch on a vehicle exterior side of the floor tunnel and extending along a ridge portion of the floor tunnel in the front-rear direction; and a first joint at which front end sides of the dash cross member and the corner patch are joined together. The dash cross member is provided on the vehicle interior side of the floor tunnel so as to range continuously from the floor tunnel to both vehicle-widthwise sides, and the floor tunnel includes a front extension portion extending frontward beyond the first joint.