Automotive Door Reinforcing Panel for Side Collision Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive doors struggle to effectively absorb collision energy in side collisions due to gaps between the door beam and outer panel, which lead to increased vehicle intrusion and reduced occupant safety, especially in vehicles with large dimensions like SUVs, and result in increased vehicle weight and decreased fuel efficiency when attempting to enhance collision resistance.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a reinforcing panel placed between the outer panel and the door beam, with a shape matching the outer panel's curvature, which absorbs collision energy by deforming and transferring the load to the door beam, thereby reducing vehicle intrusion and enhancing collision resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the outer panel is curved largely in the longitudinal and vertical direction to make the vehicle of a voluminous design, then the vehicle design is improved, but the gap between the outer panel and door beam becomes large, reducing collision energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcing panel is introduced as an intermediary component between the outer panel and the door beam. This reinforcing panel fills the gap created by the curved outer panel design, providing additional structural support and enabling effective collision energy absorption while maintaining the voluminous vehicle design.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure is segmented into multiple functional components: the outer panel for voluminous design, the reinforcing panel for gap filling and energy absorption, and the door beam for primary structural support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally.
2Shape
If bending work is performed on the door beam to match the shape of the outer panel, then the gap is reduced, but manufacturing difficulty increases and wrinkles or buckling occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the door beam shape to match the outer panel, a reinforcing panel is introduced as an intermediary that adapts to the gap space. This approach maintains the simplicity of door beam manufacturing while achieving gap reduction and improved collision performance.
3Strength
If the door beam height is enlarged to cope with high vehicle height and large mass vehicles, then collision resistance is improved, but the gap becomes larger and vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcing panel is introduced as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the outer panel and the door beam. This allows the door beam to maintain its original height and weight while the reinforcing panel provides additional collision resistance and fills the gap space.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure utilizes a composite arrangement of multiple components (outer panel, reinforcing panel, and door beam) working together to achieve enhanced collision resistance without increasing the weight of individual components or the overall vehicle.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the door beam is arranged in the oblique direction to countermeasure collision at shifted height positions, then collision coverage is improved, but the fixing span becomes long and twisting deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A reinforcing panel is introduced as an intermediary that connects the outer panel to the door beam. This panel provides additional support and load distribution, enabling the door beam to maintain its conventional arrangement while achieving improved collision coverage and reduced twisting deformation.
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 reinforcing panel effectively utilizes the gap between the outer panel and door beam as an energy-absorbing space, increasing the absorbed collision energy and reducing the maximum intrusion quantity of the colliding vehicle, while also improving compressive deformation strength and allowing for a shallower inner panel design and reduced vehicle weight.
Implementation Method 1
a reinforcing panel disposed in a space between the outer panel and the glass ascending/descending space and joined with both of the outer panel and the door beam for a side collision is provided
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an automotive door enhanced with the absorption performance for the collision energy in the side collision. The automotive door constructed of an outer panel and an inner panel, comprising a door beam for a side collision therewithin, and provided with a glass ascending/descending space between the inner panel and the door beam for a side collision comprises a reinforcing panel disposed in a space between the outer panel and the glass ascending/descending space and joined with both of the outer panel and the door beam for a side collision.