Double-Layer Rocker Panel Layout for Side-Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles do not provide sufficient protection for occupants in the event of side collisions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure featuring a double-layer rocker panel design with an upper rocker panel higher than the lower rocker panel, which gradually increases in height from the front to the rear, providing enhanced protection and energy absorption during side collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-layer rocker panel structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the protection capability for occupants in side collisions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker panel is divided into two separate layers (upper and lower rocker panels) positioned at different heights. The lower rocker panel is connected to the body lower side member, while the upper rocker panel is connected to the body upper side member, creating a segmented protective structure that provides enhanced protection without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The protective structure is extended from a single-layer configuration to a double-layer configuration with vertical separation. The upper rocker panel is positioned higher than the lower rocker panel in the height direction, adding a vertical dimension to the protection system and creating overlapping protective coverage
2Loss of energy
If the upper rocker panel height is increased from front to rear, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The upper rocker panel features a height gradient where the height increases from front to rear along the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This local variation in height creates different functional zones: the front portion provides baseline protection while the rear portion, being higher, enhances energy absorption during side collisions through increased deformation capacity
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a vehicle body structure and a vehicle. The vehicle body structure includes an upper rocker panel and a lower rocker panel, where the lower rocker panel is connected to the upper rocker panel, and in a height direction of a vehicle, at least a part of the upper rocker panel is higher than the lower rocker panel; and in a direction from a front end to a tail end of the vehicle, a height of the upper rocker panel gradually increases.