Vehicle Front Side Member Structure for Collision Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle front part structures fail to effectively absorb energy during collisions due to debris accumulation inside the side member, leading to insufficient deformation and energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front part structure with left and right front side members featuring internal compartments and outward-protruding convex parts that guide deformation outward, preventing debris accumulation and enhancing energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the side member is designed with a simple structure without internal features, then manufacturing is easier, but debris accumulates inside during collision preventing sufficient deformation and energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The side member is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, creating a segmented internal structure. This segmentation prevents debris accumulation in each compartment and guides deformation along the partition walls, enabling sufficient energy absorption without requiring complex external structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Convex parts are introduced as intermediary features on the inner side surfaces of the partition walls. These convex parts act as mediators that guide the deformation process and prevent debris from blocking the deformation path, ensuring that energy absorption occurs as intended.
2Ease of manufacture
If the side member structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but debris jamming prevents complete deformation stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The side member is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, creating a segmented internal structure. This segmentation prevents debris accumulation in each compartment and guides deformation along the partition walls, enabling sufficient energy absorption without requiring complex external structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Convex parts are introduced as intermediary features on the inner side surfaces of the partition walls. These convex parts act as mediators that guide the deformation process and prevent debris from blocking the deformation path, ensuring that energy absorption occurs as intended.
3Loss of energy
If the side member uses traditional energy absorbing structures without convex parts, then the structure is simpler, but fragments accumulate inside preventing desired energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The side member is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, creating a segmented internal structure. This segmentation prevents debris accumulation in each compartment and guides deformation along the partition walls, enabling sufficient energy absorption without requiring complex external structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Convex parts are introduced as intermediary features on the inner side surfaces of the partition walls. These convex parts act as mediators that guide the deformation process and prevent debris from blocking the deformation path, ensuring that energy absorption occurs as intended.
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 structure facilitates intended energy absorption by inhibiting debris accumulation, ensuring complete deformation and efficient energy dissipation during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the front side member is induced to deform so as to move toward the vehicle inner side—namely, outward from the cross section of the front side member—along the outer surface of the convex part
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle front part structure includes a pair of left and right suspension towers, and a pair of left and right front side members disposed at vehicle lower sides of the suspension towers and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, and is integrally molded by die casting. The front side member has plural compartments arranged internally in the vehicle front-rear direction, and has plural convex parts, protruding outward on progression toward the vehicle rear, at an inner side surface in a vehicle width direction. The plural convex parts provided in the plural compartments are continuously formed in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to discharge fragments from fractures caused by deformation at a time of a collision outward from a cross section.