Front Side Member Cutaway for Small Overlap Collision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current front vehicle body structures are ineffective in absorbing and dispersing impact energy during frontal collisions and small overlap collisions, leading to inadequate protection for passengers and excessive damage to the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcing structure comprising a front side member formed by coupling a front side inner and outer member with a cut-away portion, and a fender apron member, where the side outer member is joined to the cut-away portion and the fender apron member, allowing simultaneous absorption and dispersion of impact energy across the vehicle body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front side member is reinforced by extending the front end portion forward, then the collision performance is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The front side member is divided into an inner member and an outer member that are coupled together. The outer member has a cut-away portion at its front end, creating a segmented structure that reduces complexity while maintaining collision performance through coordinated deformation of both members.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner member is positioned within the outer member structure, with the inner member's front end extending beyond the outer member's front end. This nested arrangement allows both members to contribute to collision absorption without requiring separate reinforcement structures.
2Strength
If a reinforcement member is mounted on the outside of the front side member, then the small overlap collision resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement function is merged into the front side member structure itself by coupling the inner and outer members. The outer member acts as both a structural component and a reinforcement element, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement members mounted on the outside.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer member is specifically designed with a cut-away portion at the front end where reinforcement is most needed for small overlap collisions. This localized structural modification provides enhanced collision resistance without reinforcing the entire member uniformly, reducing overall complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the front side member structure is simplified, then the manufacturing ease is improved, but the impact energy absorption capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The front side member is segmented into inner and outer members with a specific coupling arrangement. This segmentation allows each member to be manufactured separately using standard processes, then assembled together to create the energy-absorbing structure, maintaining manufacturing ease while achieving superior impact energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupled inner and outer members are designed to deform dynamically during collision, with the cut-away portion of the outer member allowing controlled deformation patterns. This dynamic deformation mechanism enables effective impact energy absorption without requiring complex pre-formed structures that would be difficult to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A front vehicle body reinforcing structure of a vehicle includes a front side member formed to extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, disposed on both right and left sides along a width direction of the vehicle, and formed by coupling a front side inner member disposed on an inner side of the vehicle and a front side outer member disposed on an outer side of the vehicle. A front end portion of the front side outer member is cut away and positioned behind a front end portion of the front side inner member; a side outer member coupled to a cut-away portion of the front side outer member; and a fender apron member disposed on an upper side in a height direction of the vehicle than the front side member and coupled to the side outer member, thereby improving front collision resistance performance.