Rear Pillar Frame Structure for Vehicle Body Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reinforcing the vicinity of a wheelhouse may be insufficient to ensure body rigidity in vehicle bodies, leading to inadequate absorption of vibrations from suspensions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure comprising a rear opening, a rear header, a rear pillar with a first and second portion, a rear wheelhouse, a rear suspension tower, and frames connecting these components to form a robust frame structure that increases rigidity and reduces vibrations by effectively receiving input from the rear suspension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the rear pillar is extended rearward to improve body rigidity, then the rigidity increases, but the bending moment and rotational moment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rear pillar is divided into two separate pillars: a first rear pillar extending from the rear header and a second rear pillar extending from the rear wheelhouse. This segmentation reduces the span of each individual pillar, thereby reducing the bending moment and rotational moment on each pillar while maintaining overall body rigidity through the combined structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A rear inter-pillar beam is introduced as an intermediary component connecting the first rear pillar and the second rear pillar. This beam acts as a mediator that distributes and reduces the bending moment and rotational moment between the two pillars, allowing the rear opening to be wider while maintaining structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If a single rear pillar is used to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the body rigidity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single rear pillar is segmented into two separate pillars (first rear pillar and second rear pillar) positioned at different locations. This segmentation increases body rigidity by creating a more distributed support structure while maintaining relative simplicity through the use of standard pillar components.
Solution Approach 2:
The first rear pillar, second rear pillar, and rear inter-pillar beam are merged into an integrated rear pillar assembly that functions as a unified structural system. This combining approach achieves enhanced rigidity while presenting a relatively simple overall structure from the exterior.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rear opening is widened to improve passenger space, then the usability increases, but the body rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the rear support structure into two separate pillars instead of one, the rear opening can be widened to improve passenger space while the multiple pillars maintain body rigidity through distributed structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear inter-pillar beam serves as an intermediary that connects the two rear pillars, enabling a wider rear opening for improved passenger access while maintaining structural integrity and body rigidity through the beam's load-bearing function.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body may include a rear opening; a rear header extending in a width direction of the vehicle body along an upper edge of the rear opening; a rear pillar extending from an end of the rear header along a side edge of the rear opening; a rear wheelhouse located below the rear pillar; and a rear suspension tower disposed at the rear wheelhouse, wherein a rear suspension is mounted on the rear suspension tower. The rear pillar may include a first portion extending rearward from the end of the rear header; and a second portion bending at a rear end of the first portion and extending downward therefrom. The vehicle body may further include a first frame connecting the rear suspension tower to the rear header; and a second frame connecting a halfway point of the first portion of the rear pillar to the rear wheelhouse.