Vehicle Door Reinforcement Member Attenuation Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle doors sometimes open during impact events due to insufficient reinforcement, allowing impact forces to be misdirected and potentially causing injury or damage.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door structure featuring a reinforcement member with a secondary reinforcement member (attenuation member) that deforms to prevent the latch mechanism from operating, keeping the door closed by contacting the latch mechanism and redirecting impact forces to the B-pillar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a reinforcement member is installed in the door structure, then the door strength and impact resistance are improved, but the door may become overly rigid and unable to deform properly to engage the latch mechanism during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member incorporates an attenuation member (secondary reinforcement member) at its forward end that has different structural properties than the main reinforcement member. This attenuation member is designed to deform more easily under impact forces, creating a localized compliant region that allows the rearward end to engage the latch mechanism while the overall door structure maintains high strength.
2Reliability
If the reinforcement member is made more rigid to prevent door opening during impact, then the door's ability to retain the latch mechanism is improved, but the door may not deform sufficiently to direct impact forces to the B-pillar
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member uses a gradient in structural parameters along its length, with the attenuation member at the forward end having lower rigidity parameters that allow controlled deformation. This enables the door to deform in a controlled manner to direct impact forces to the B-pillar while the rearward portion maintains sufficient rigidity to retain the latch mechanism.
3Reliability
If a secondary reinforcement member (attenuation member) is added to the reinforcement member, then the door's ability to deform and engage the latch during impact is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attenuation member is integrated with the reinforcement member as a unified structural component rather than a separate attachment. The attenuation member forms part of the reinforcement member's forward end structure, combining the reinforcement and attenuation functions into a single integrated element that reduces overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If the reinforcement member is designed to deform during impact, then the latch mechanism can be engaged, but the door structure may become too complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is segmented into distinct functional zones: the attenuation member at the forward end designed for deformation, and the main reinforcement portion extending to the rearward end designed for strength and latch engagement. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently for its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through modular design.
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
Effectively prevents the door from opening during impacts by ensuring the latch mechanism remains engaged, thereby directing impact forces to the B-pillar for absorption, enhancing safety by maintaining the door in a closed orientation within 50 milliseconds of the impact.
Implementation Method 1
the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism retaining the latch mechanism in the latching orientation
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body structure includes a door, a latch mechanism and a secondary reinforcement member (an attenuation member). The door has an inner door panel and a reinforcement member installed thereto the inner door panel. The latch mechanism is installed the inner door panel such that in a latching orientation the latch mechanism retains the door in the closed orientation and in a release orientation the door can move to the open orientation. A rearward portion of the reinforcement member is outboard and level with a portion of the latch mechanism. The secondary reinforcement member is fixedly attached to a central area of the reinforcement member spaced apart from the rearward area of the inner door panel and spaced apart from a forward area of the inner door panel. In response to an impact event, the reinforcement member deforms and contacts the latch mechanism preventing movement of the latch mechanism.