Vehicle Side Sill Vertical Beads Offset Crash Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle lower-body structures for narrow offset crashes are either heavy due to increased components and assembly steps or lack effective impact absorption, leading to poor performance in weight reduction and productivity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lower-body structure featuring a front pillar and side sill with vertically extending beads that absorb impact without additional deformable members, combined with reinforcement members like stiffeners and gussets to enhance strength and reduce weight, simplifying the joint between the front pillar and side sill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deformable member is added to the side sill for impact absorption, then the impact energy absorption performance is improved, but the number of components and assembly steps increases, leading to increased weight and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the deformable member with the side sill itself, making the side sill兼具 structural support and impact absorption functions. The side sill includes a deformable portion with reduced thickness at its front end, eliminating the need for separate deformable members while maintaining impact energy absorption performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The side sill is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the vehicle body and simultaneously acts as an impact absorber through its deformable portion. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the vehicle lower-body structure.
2Strength
If additional reinforcing members are added to prevent front pillar deformation, then the structural strength is improved, but the weight increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement by increasing the thickness of the side sill specifically at portions requiring strength (middle and rear portions) while maintaining reduced thickness at the front end for deformability. This localized quality differentiation optimizes both strength and impact absorption without unnecessary weight increase.
3Reliability
If the side sill is designed to be fully deformable for impact absorption, then the impact load absorption is improved, but the structural integrity and cabin protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The side sill is segmented into different functional portions: a deformable portion at the front end with reduced thickness for impact absorption, and reinforced portions at the middle and rear with increased thickness for maintaining structural integrity. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally.
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 effectively absorbs impact loads during a narrow offset crash, reduces the number of components and assembly steps, and achieves weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity, thereby enhancing productivity and crash performance.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the side-sill outer panel and the side-sill inner panel includes a vertical bead in front of the reinforcement member and below the front pillar, the vertical bead extending vertically... when, in case of a narrow offset crash, a pressing load is imposed on the front end of the side sill from a wheel, the vertical beads are crashed to absorb the impact
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lower-body structure includes a front pillar, including a front-pillar outer panel and a front-pillar inner panel, and a side sill, including a side-sill outer panel and a side-sill inner panel and joined to a lower portion of the front pillar. The front-pillar outer panel is joined to an outer surface of the side-sill outer panel. The front-pillar inner panel is held between the side-sill outer panel and the side-sill inner panel. The side-sill outer panel and the side-sill inner panel respectively include vertical beads in front of a reinforcement member disposed at a front portion of the side sill and below the front pillar, the vertical beads extending vertically.