Vehicle Front Section Bracing to Protect the Power Unit in Collisions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle head-on collisions, the existing vehicle front section structures often result in load being input to the power unit due to deformation of the front cross member, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front section structure featuring left and right front side frames, front side members, a cross member positioned obliquely upward of the power unit, and reinforcement braces spanning between the cross member and front side members, which supports the driving seat and reduces load input to the power unit by suppressing deformation of the cross member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a front cross member is provided along the vehicle width direction at the front end portion of cab flooring, then the structural support is improved, but in head-on collisions load is input to the power unit causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The front section structure is divided into multiple independent load-bearing components: front side frames, front side members, cross members, and reinforcement braces. This segmentation creates multiple load paths that distribute collision forces away from the power unit, preventing concentrated load on the power unit while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross member is positioned obliquely upward of the power unit rather than directly above it, and the reinforcement brace creates a three-dimensional bracing structure. This spatial arrangement redirects collision loads through the oblique geometry of the cross member and reinforcement brace, channeling forces away from the power unit in the vertical and lateral dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If the cross member is positioned to support the driving seat, then the driving seat support is improved, but deformation of the cross member during collision causes interference with the power unit
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement brace is pre-installed to provide preliminary strengthening to the cross member before collision occurs. This pre-reinforcement ensures that during head-on collision, the cross member maintains its structural integrity and does not deform into a position that would interfere with the power unit, while continuing to support the driving seat.
3Stability of the object's composition
If reinforcement braces are added between the cross member and front side members, then the cross member deformation is suppressed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement brace integrates multiple functions into a single component: it strengthens the cross member against deformation, connects the front side members to the cross member, and creates additional load paths for collision forces. This merging of functions achieves enhanced cross member stability without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front section structure includes: a power unit installed at a front section; a left and right pair of front side frames extending in a vehicle front-rear direction; a left and right pair of front side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at a vehicle upper side of the left and right pair of front side frames, with rear end portions of the front side members being respectively joined to the left and right pair of front side frames; a cross member disposed at a vehicle rear side and obliquely upward of the power unit so as to span between the left and right pair of front side members and to support a driving seat of the vehicle; and a reinforcement brace spanning between the cross member and at least one front side member of the left front side member or a right front side member.