Vehicle Front Body Sidemember Angle Tie for Offset Crash Energy Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern unibody longitudinal sidemembers in vehicles are often inboard of the 25% overlap impact zone, failing to fully absorb kinetic energy during offset collisions, leading to cockpit intrusion due to inadequate energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A front body structure enhancement featuring a front bumper tip enclosure attached to the front bumper beam and a sidemember angle tie that extends at an angle to redirect impact energy to the longitudinal sidemembers, allowing for increased energy absorption and minimizing cockpit intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional front body structure with inboard longitudinal sidemembers is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but energy absorption capability during offset collision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The front body structure is segmented into multiple functional components: front bumper beam, front bumper tip enclosure, sidemember angle tie, and longitudinal sidemembers. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function in the energy absorption sequence, with the angle tie acting as a dedicated energy redirector from the outboard impact zone to the inboard longitudinal sidemembers.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidemember angle tie introduces a diagonal dimension to the traditionally linear front body structure. By extending at an angle from the front bumper tip enclosure to the longitudinal sidemember, it creates an angular energy path that redirects impact forces from the outboard impact zone inward, adding a dimensional element to force distribution.
2Strength
If longitudinal sidemembers are positioned inboard, then structural integrity is maintained, but accessibility to impact zone for energy absorption is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sidemember angle tie serves as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the outboard impact zone (front bumper tip enclosure) and the inboard longitudinal sidemember. It transfers and redirects impact energy along its angular path, allowing the inboard-positioned longitudinal sidemember to access and absorb energy from the outboard impact zone without compromising its structurally optimal inboard position.
3Reliability
If front bumper tip enclosure and sidemember angle tie are added, then crash protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The front bumper tip enclosure and sidemember angle tie are designed to be pre-assembled as an integrated energy management system before installation on the vehicle. The angle tie is configured with predetermined angular geometry and attachment points that align with standard mounting procedures, allowing the enhanced structure to be installed using conventional manufacturing and assembly processes despite the added components.
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 solution effectively redirects and absorbs impact energy away from the wheels and into the sidemembers, reducing cockpit intrusion by 18-46% and improving crash protection during offset collisions.
Implementation Method 1
The sidemember angle tie changes a direction of an impact load on the vehicle body to a longitudinal direction by transferring the impact load along an angular path to the one of the longitudinal sidemembers
Implementation Method 2
the sidemember crushes longitudinally and ultimately minimizes vehicle cockpit intrusion to protect occupants therein
Data Source
AI summary
A front body structure of a vehicle for enhanced crash protection includes: a front bumper beam extending transversely across a body of the vehicle; a pair of longitudinal sidemembers extending longitudinally along the vehicle body; a front bumper tip enclosure attached to the front bumper beam and substantially enclosing an end portion of the front bumper beam; and a sidemember angle tie extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal sidemembers, a front end of the sidemember angle tie attached to the front bumper tip enclosure, and a rear end of the sidemember angle tie attached to one of the longitudinal sidemembers. The sidemember angle tie changes a direction of an impact load on the vehicle body to a longitudinal direction by transferring the impact load along an angular path to the one of the longitudinal sidemembers to which the sidemember angle tie is attached.