Vehicle Front Beam Structure for Full-Width and Small Overlap Crashes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle front structures are inadequate in absorbing collision loads during both full-wrap frontal collisions and small overlap frontal collisions, leading to insufficient suppression of deformation in the power unit room.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle body front structure incorporates a cradle, front side frames, a radiator support, a control plate, and a beam member with an arc portion and winding portions, which are designed to absorb collision loads and resist deformation during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cradle structure is used in the front portion of the vehicle body, then assembly workability is improved and some collision energy absorption is achieved, but the structure is inadequate in absorbing collision loads during both full-wrap frontal collisions and small overlap frontal collisions, leading to insufficient suppression of deformation in the power unit room
Solution Approach 1:
The front structure is segmented into multiple functional components: the cradle structure for general support, the beam member with arc and winding portions for energy absorption, and the control plate for guiding deformation. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific collision scenarios, improving overall reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The beam member incorporates a winding portion that dynamically changes its deformation characteristics during collision. The winding structure allows the beam to progressively absorb energy through controlled deformation, transitioning from a rigid support to a flexible energy-absorbing element as collision force increases
2Reliability
If the beam member with winding portion is added to the front structure, then collision load absorption is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam member integrates multiple functions into a single component: the arc portion provides structural support, the winding portion absorbs energy, and the connection points link it to both the cradle and control plate. This merging reduces the need for separate components, improving reliability while limiting complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The beam member serves multiple purposes: it acts as a structural support element, an energy-absorbing component, and a deformation-guiding mechanism. The control plate similarly provides both structural support and guides the deformation path. This multi-functionality improves power unit room protection without proportionally increasing component count
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
This configuration effectively suppresses deformation of the power unit room in both full-wrap and small overlap frontal collisions by efficiently absorbing collision loads and generating a yawing behavior to reduce localized impact.
Implementation Method 1
a winding portion joined to the control plate and provided at each of both ends of the arc portion
Implementation Method 2
generating a yawing behavior to reduce localized impact
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body front structure includes a cradle, a front side frames in a pair, a radiator support, a control plate, and a beam member. The cradle is disposed below a power unit room disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body. The front side frames extend on a side portion of the power unit room. The radiator support is provided in front of the power unit room and joins a front end of each front side frame to a radiator side frame. The control plate is joined to an outer surface of the front end of each front side frame and the radiator side frame. The beam member is disposed in a vehicle body front space and includes an arc portion having a center portion, and a winding portion joined to the control plate and provided at each of both ends of the arc portion.