Vehicle Rocker Shock Absorption for Small-Area Side Impacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorption structures in vehicle bodies are inefficient in absorbing collision loads when colliding with objects having a smaller collision area, such as poles, as the energy absorption members deform in a small area, failing to effectively distribute the load.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorption structure for vehicle bodies featuring a rocker with a hollow structure and energy absorption members that include an outer member and an inner member, where the outer member has higher deformation strength and is designed to transmit collision loads to a wider area, ensuring efficient energy absorption even when colliding with small-area objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single energy absorption member is used in the rocker, then the structure is simple, but the collision load cannot be efficiently absorbed when colliding with objects having small collision area
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorption member is divided into an outer member and an inner member with different deformation strengths. The outer member has higher deformation strength to maintain structural integrity, while the inner member has lower deformation strength to efficiently absorb collision energy through controlled deformation, thereby improving energy absorption efficiency without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the energy absorption member are assigned different mechanical properties. The outer member is designed with higher deformation strength to resist initial impact, while the inner member is designed with lower deformation strength to absorb energy through deformation. This local differentiation of material properties enables efficient energy absorption across various collision scenarios
2Reliability
If the energy absorption member is designed to deform in a small area, then it matches the collision object size, but the collision load cannot be distributed over a wide area
Solution Approach 1:
The collision load distribution is extended from a one-dimensional small contact area to a two-dimensional wide area through the coordinated deformation of outer and inner members. The outer member distributes the load across its wider structure, while the inner member deforms to absorb energy, transforming the load distribution from concentrated to distributed across multiple spatial dimensions
3Reliability
If the outer member and inner member have the same deformation strength, then the structure is symmetric and simple, but the collision load transmission is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The outer member is designed with higher deformation strength to maintain structural integrity and distribute collision loads, while the inner member is designed with lower deformation strength to absorb energy through controlled deformation. This local differentiation of mechanical properties optimizes the load transmission pathway and energy absorption mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The energy absorption member functions as a composite structure combining outer and inner members with different deformation characteristics. This composite design enables the system to simultaneously achieve load distribution (through the rigid outer member) and energy absorption (through the deformable inner member), optimizing overall collision performance
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 efficiently absorbs collision energy by deforming the inner member over a wider area, maximizing energy absorption performance while potentially reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
The outer member and the inner member are arranged such that a collision load in a width direction of the vehicle body is transmittable therebetween
Implementation Method 2
The outer member has higher deformation strength against the collision load from the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body than that of the inner member
Implementation Method 3
the energy absorption member can be deformed over a wide area even when colliding with an object having a small area, such as a pole, and can efficiently absorb the collision load
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorption structure for a vehicle body includes, in a closed sectional structure of a rocker (10), an energy absorption member (20) that absorbs collision energy from an outer side in a width direction of the vehicle body, the energy absorption member (20) includes an outer member (21) disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body and an inner member (22) disposed on an inner side in the width direction of the vehicle body, the outer member (21) and the inner member (22) are arranged such that a collision load in the width direction of the vehicle body is transmittable therebetween, the outer member (21) is made higher in deformation strength against a collision load from the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle body than that of the inner member (22), and the outer member (21) and the inner member (22) are set to have a longer length in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body than a size of a collision target in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.