Vehicle Door Trim Clip Base Asymmetric Buckling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door trim installation structures face challenges in effectively damping collision reaction forces during side collisions due to differences in rigidity between the upper and lower sides of the clip installation base, leading to potential buckling and increased collision reaction forces on passengers.
Innovation Solution
A door trim design featuring a clip installation base with a bent portion that is convex outward, allowing for easier buckling and stress concentration at the bent portion, reducing the initial rise of collision reaction force and stabilizing the buckling deformation mode, thereby reducing the impact stroke and collision reaction force received by passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the leg portion of the clip installation base is formed in parallel to the input direction of side collision load, then the structure is simple, but the buckling load becomes higher than expected and collision reaction force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip installation base employs asymmetric geometry where the leg portion is inclined at a specific angle (θ) relative to the input direction of side collision load, rather than being parallel. This asymmetric configuration reduces the buckling load by optimizing the load distribution and deformation characteristics, thereby lowering the collision reaction force while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the inclination angle (θ) of the leg portion as a critical parameter to control the buckling behavior. By adjusting this angle, the buckling load is reduced to an appropriate level that effectively dampens collision reaction forces, transforming the structural parameter to achieve better safety performance.
2Shape
If deformation mode is controlled using an ornament or the like, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the clip installation base is restrained and collision reaction force reduction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The clip installation base is divided into functionally independent segments: the leg portion for load-bearing and buckling, and the ornament for aesthetic purposes. This segmentation allows the leg portion to deform freely for collision force reduction without being restrained by the ornament, while the ornament maintains its aesthetic function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative function (ornament) is extracted from the structural function (leg portion). The ornament is designed as a separate element that does not restrain the buckling deformation of the leg portion, allowing the structural component to perform its collision force reduction function independently while the aesthetic component provides visual appeal.
3Force
If the clip installation base is tilted due to torsional deformation, then collision reaction force is suppressed, but the deformation mode is unstable and further improvement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric inclination of the leg portion creates a predetermined buckling mode that is more stable than random torsional deformation. The inclined geometry guides the deformation along a controlled path, ensuring consistent and repeatable buckling behavior that reliably reduces collision reaction forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg portion is designed with curved surfaces and rounded transitions instead of sharp edges, which promotes stable buckling deformation. The curved geometry helps distribute stresses evenly and prevents localized stress concentrations that could lead to unstable or unpredictable deformation modes.
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 dampens collision reaction forces by reducing the buckling load and stabilizing the deformation mode, ensuring passenger safety during side collisions by securing the impact stroke and adjusting the buckling load through the angle of the bent portion.
Implementation Method 1
the bent portion has no force application point. Furthermore, when the collision load is input to the clip installation base, stress is concentrated at the bent portion. Consequently, the clip rising wall portion becomes easy to deform by buckling.
Implementation Method 2
when the collision load is input to the clip installation base, stress is concentrated at the bent portion
Implementation Method 3
the larger the buckling load of the clip rising wall portion is, the larger the collision reaction force that the passenger receives from the clip installation base is... the buckling load of the clip rising wall portion is reduced, so that rise-up of the collision reaction force at an initial period by the clip rising wall portion is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A door trim for a vehicle includes: a trim main body formed so as to be bulging out inward of a vehicle compartment as an interior furnishing material of a door inner panel of a side door; and a clip installation base provided on the trim main body in a rear side area thereof with respect to the vehicle. The clip installation base includes: a clip settling portion configured to be opposed to the door inner panel and to be fitted with a clip to be mounted in a mounting hole formed in the door inner panel; and a clip rising wall portion provided continuously with the clip settling portion and forming a closed section portion together with the trim main body and the clip settling portion in a horizontal section, the clip rising wall portion including a bent portion having an angle so as to be convex outward.