Inclined Crash Can Structure for Offset Collision Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle front body structures struggle to effectively absorb collision energy in both full-frontal and offset collisions, as the crash cans tend to buckle under orthogonal load components, reducing their energy absorption efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle front body structure features a crash can that extends forward and is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction, with a vulnerable portion on the inner side to promote plastic distortion and a contour matching the front side frame, along with notches and ribs to distribute load and prevent buckling, enhancing energy absorption in both collision types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the crash can is arranged to extend linearly in the vehicle longitudinal direction in a coaxial manner with the front side frame, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the crash can cannot sufficiently absorb collision energy in offset collisions due to buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The crash can is designed with an asymmetric inclined configuration relative to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Specifically, the crash can extends forward and is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction, creating an asymmetric structure that optimizes energy absorption for both full-frontal and offset collisions while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A vulnerable portion with reduced thickness is provided at a specific location (inner side in the vehicle width direction) of the crash can. This local quality change creates a predetermined deformation zone that promotes controlled plastic distortion, enhancing energy absorption capability without compromising overall structural integrity or manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If the crash can is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction, then the energy absorption capability in offset collisions is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crash can adopts an asymmetric inclined design where the body extends forward and is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction. This single asymmetric configuration simultaneously addresses both full-frontal and offset collision scenarios, avoiding the need for multiple complex structural variations while maintaining high energy absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vulnerable portion with localized thickness reduction is strategically positioned at the inner side in the vehicle width direction. This local modification creates controlled deformation characteristics that enhance energy absorption without requiring overall structural complexity, as only a specific region is modified rather than the entire structure.
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 allows for efficient energy absorption in both full-frontal and offset collisions by distributing load and preventing buckling, improving the crash can's deformation and energy absorption capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a vulnerable portion is provided on an inner side in the vehicle width direction of each of the crash cans, and has low strength against the collision load from front of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the crash can is crushed and deformed, and thereby absorbs the energy of the collision load
Data Source
AI summary
A front side frame provided on each of right and left sides of the vehicle and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a bumper beam provided on a vehicle front side of each of the front side frames and having an inclined section in each end portion in a vehicle width direction, the bumper beam extending outward in the vehicle width direction and being inclined rearward in. A crash can is provided in a front end portion of each of the front side frames, extends forward, and is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction. A front end portion of each of the crash cans is coupled to the respective inclined section of the bumper beam. On an inner side in the vehicle width direction of each of the crash cans, a vulnerable portion is provided, and has low strength against a collision load input to the bumper beam.