Multi-Chamber Side Sill Reinforcement Prevents Impact Profile Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reinforcement profiles in motor vehicle side sills tilt out of the force direction during a side impact, particularly in pole impacts, limiting their deformation and energy absorption capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A side sill design with a multi-chamber profile featuring a downwardly protruding supporting base and a guide profile, ensuring stable support against the inner sill part, preventing the reinforcement profile from tilting and allowing full deformation and energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the reinforcement profile is supported against the inner sill part without a supporting base, then the structure is simpler, but the reinforcement profile tilts out of the force direction during side impact, reducing its energy absorption capability
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting base extends the reinforcement profile in the vertical dimension, creating a broader support footprint against the inner sill part. This dimensional extension prevents tilting by distributing support forces across a larger area, ensuring the reinforcement profile remains aligned with the horizontal force direction during side impacts while maintaining structural effectiveness.
2Loss of energy
If the reinforcement profile is allowed to tilt during side impact, then the structure can absorb some energy through tilting motion, but the reinforcement profile cannot be exploited to its full potential as regards deformation and energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting base is designed to preemptively counteract any tilting motion before it can occur during impact. By providing robust vertical support that prevents the reinforcement profile from deviating from the horizontal force direction, the base ensures that the full energy absorption potential of the reinforcement profile is utilized through controlled deformation rather than uncontrolled tilting.
3Loss of energy
If the reinforcement profile is rigidly fixed to prevent any movement, then the energy absorption through deformation is maximized, but the mounting and assembly process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the supporting base for vertical support, the guide profile for horizontal positioning, and the retaining profile for final securing. This segmentation allows for simplified assembly where each component performs a specific function, making the mounting process more manageable while ensuring the reinforcement profile is properly constrained for optimal energy absorption.
Data Source
AI summary
A side sill for a motor vehicle body is composed of multiple sill parts that delimit a cavity in which a profiled reinforcing section is arranged. The profiled reinforcing section is designed as a multi-chamber profiled section and has an inner face that is supported against an inner sill part. In order to support the inner face of the profiled reinforcing section against the inner sill part of the side sill, the profiled reinforcing section has a support base on the inner face, the support base protruding downwards from a main part in the vehicle vertical direction.