Extruded Airdam J-Shape Dual-Durometer Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airdams struggle to maintain aerodynamic performance while being low to the ground without sustaining damage from contact with obstacles like driveway ramps and parking curbs, and they fail to effectively deflect under increasing wind forces at higher vehicle speeds.
Innovation Solution
An airdam with a J-shaped cross-section and a co-extruded body featuring a harder upper section and a softer lower section, along with a forward tilt angle and a curved lip, allowing for deflection without damage and maintaining effectiveness under wind forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airdam is made as low to the ground as possible to improve aerodynamic performance, then lift and drag reduction is enhanced, but the airdam becomes susceptible to damage from contact with obstacles like driveway ramps and parking curbs
Solution Approach 1:
The airdam incorporates a dual-durometer construction where the upper section (above the forward tilt angle) is made from a harder material (40-65 Shore D) to provide structural strength and resistance to damage, while the lower section (below the forward tilt angle) is made from a softer material (55-80 Shore A) to provide flexibility and deflect upon contact with obstacles. This local differentiation of material properties allows the airdam to simultaneously achieve aerodynamic effectiveness at low ground clearance and damage resistance through selective material hardness distribution.
2Strength
If the airdam is made from soft rubber material to allow deflection without damage, then durability is improved, but the airdam may become ineffective at higher vehicle speeds when forced to deflect rearwardly by wind forces
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-durometer construction addresses this contradiction by placing the harder material in the upper section that resists excessive rearward deflection from wind forces, while the softer lower section maintains flexibility to deflect upon contact with obstacles. The forward tilt angle geometry further ensures that the harder upper section maintains its aerodynamic profile under wind load while the softer lower section absorbs impact deflections.
3Strength
If the airdam body is made from a single hard material to prevent damage, then structural integrity is improved, but the airdam cannot deflect upon contact with obstacles without sustaining damage
Solution Approach 1:
The airdam employs different durometer materials in different sections: the upper section uses harder material (40-65 Shore D) for structural integrity and damage resistance, while the lower section uses softer material (55-80 Shore A) for deflection capability when contacting obstacles. This localized material property differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The airdam body is constructed as a composite structure combining two rubber materials with different durometer ratings in a co-extruded configuration. This composite construction integrates the advantages of both hard and soft materials into a single unified component, achieving both structural integrity and deflection capability simultaneously.
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 airdam effectively reduces lift and drag by deflecting upon contact with obstacles and adjusting to wind forces, maintaining its shape and functionality while preventing structural damage, thus enhancing aerodynamic performance and durability.
Implementation Method 1
an airdam that can be as low to the ground as possible while also not becoming damaged during everyday use from contact with driveway ramps, parking curbs or other roadway and parking obstacles. This document relates to airdam embodiments made from a relatively soft rubber material that will deflect or bend when contacted by the ground or other objects
Implementation Method 2
the airdam embodiments are designed with a forward tilt angle allowing the airdam to maintain effectiveness even as it is forced to deflect rearwardly by wind forces as vehicle speeds increase
Data Source
AI summary
An airdam is provided for a motor vehicle. The airdam includes an extruded body having a J-shaped cross-section defining a forward tilt angle and a curved lip. The body may include a crescent shaped profile or a bell curve shaped profile.