Vehicle Floor Cross Member with Segmented Reinforcement
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle floor structures lack optimal deforming and bending properties to effectively absorb impact loads during side collisions, compromising stability and passenger compartment safety.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle floor structure featuring a side sill assembly, longitudinal member, and cross member with a connecting portion that divides it into two portions, reinforced by an element extending through the connecting portion to enhance stability and energy absorption during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cross member is made rigid to maintain stability, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to absorb impact energy through controlled deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cross member is divided into two portions by a connecting portion, with the first portion having a lower top wall than the second portion. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions: the first portion can deform to absorb energy while the second portion maintains structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portion includes a ramp structure that creates a localized deformation zone. This local quality change allows the structure to have varying deformation characteristics at different locations, enabling controlled deformation for energy absorption while maintaining overall stability
2Ease of manufacture
If the cross member structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to provide both stability and controlled deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cross member is designed with dynamic deformation characteristics through the ramp structure in the connecting portion. This allows the structure to transition from a static rigid component to a dynamic system that can control deformation during impact, providing both stability and energy absorption without complex manufacturing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A cross member (9) passes a longitudinal member (7). The cross member is connected, on its outer end, to a side sill assembly (5) and includes a connecting portion (9j2) that divides the cross member into a remote cross member portion (32) from the outer end of the cross member, and the other cross member portion (34). A reinforcement element (19) extends through the connecting portion into the remote cross member portion (32) and terminates in at its inner end spaced by a gap (23) from a top wall (7a) of the longitudinal member, and it extends into the other cross member portion (34) and terminates in at its outer end in the neighborhood of the side sill assembly. It is connected to an upper inner wall (9m) of the remote cross member portion (32), but spaced from an upper inner wall (9n) of the other cross member portion (34).