Rear Cross Member Extending Beyond Bumper Beam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle body structure fails to adequately enhance the rigidity of the rear portion due to the termination of the rear bumper beam, upper member, and lower member at the same location, limiting the effectiveness of impact energy absorption and torsional rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A rear cross member is positioned between the rear panel and rear bumper beam, extending outward in the vehicle width direction, with reinforcing beads and protrusions to increase thickness and torsional rigidity, and a rear bumper beam with protrusions to enhance impact absorption and deformation during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rear bumper beam, upper member, and lower member terminate at the same location, then the device complexity is reduced, but the torsional rigidity of the vehicle body rear portion is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cross member extends beyond the rear bumper beam in the vehicle width direction, adding dimensional extension to the structure. This extending portion increases the effective width of the rigid structure, thereby enhancing torsional rigidity without significantly increasing overall structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The rear cross member is positioned specifically between the rear panel and rear bumper beam, creating a localized three-layered structure. This local reinforcement provides enhanced rigidity where needed most, while maintaining simplicity in other areas of the vehicle body
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rear cross member extends outward beyond the rear bumper beam, then the torsional rigidity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear cross member integrates multiple functions: it connects the rear panel to the rear bumper beam, provides structural reinforcement, and extends beyond the bumper beam to increase torsional rigidity. This merging of functions into a single component reduces the need for additional separate reinforcement elements
3Strength
If the three members are arranged in a three-layered structure, then the strength is increased, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle body rear portion employs a composite structure where the rear panel, rear cross member, and rear bumper beam work together as an integrated three-layered system. This composite arrangement distributes loads across multiple components, achieving enhanced strength through structural configuration rather than simply adding material mass
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive vehicle body structure includes a rear panel arranged in a vehicle width direction in a vehicle body rear portion, a rear cross member connected to a rear surface of the rear panel, extending along the vehicle width direction, and defining a closed cross section between the rear cross member and the rear panel, and a rear bumper beam connected to a rear section of the rear cross member and extending along the vehicle width direction. The rear cross member includes an extending portion extending along the rear panel outward in the vehicle width direction from an outer end of the rear bumper beam in the vehicle width direction.