Split Rear Side Frame with Overlap for Energy Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle rear collision structures do not adequately enhance impact-energy absorption to ensure passenger safety, as they fail to effectively distribute and manage the compressive forces during a rear collision.
Innovation Solution
A rear vehicle-body structure featuring longitudinally-split rear side frames with varying compressive strengths, where the rear end of the front-side frame and the front end of the rear-side frame overlap, connected to a high-strength overlap portion, allowing for controlled deformation and energy absorption without frame breakage, and incorporating a cross member to enhance energy absorption across the vehicle width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single rear side frame is used, then the structure is simple, but the impact-energy absorption performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rear side frame is divided into two separate frames: a front-side frame and a rear-side frame. These frames are positioned along the vehicle longitudinal direction with their end portions overlapping. The segmentation allows each frame to contribute to impact-energy absorption through controlled deformation, increasing the total energy absorption capacity while managing structural complexity through modular design
2Strength
If the rear side frame is made uniformly strong, then the frame can resist compression, but it may break during severe impact
Solution Approach 1:
The front-side frame and rear-side frame are designed with different compressive strength characteristics. The front-side frame has higher compressive strength to resist initial impact, while the rear-side frame has lower compressive strength to deform and absorb energy. This local quality differentiation ensures that each frame portion performs its specific function optimally, preventing catastrophic failure while maintaining necessary strength
3Loss of energy
If the frames are connected at a single point, then the structure is simple, but the energy absorption is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The rear end portion of the front-side frame and the front end portion of the rear-side frame are overlapped to form an overlap portion. This merging of the two frames creates a combined structure that increases the overall energy absorption capacity. The overlap portion allows both frames to deform and absorb energy simultaneously, maximizing collision-energy absorption while maintaining structural coherence
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 increases the amount of impact-energy absorption in rear collisions, thereby improving passenger safety by allowing controlled deformation and preventing frame breakage, while ensuring efficient energy distribution and absorption.
Implementation Method 1
the strength of the rear-side frame excluding the overlap portion with the front-side frame is lower than that of the front-side frame excluding the overlap portion with the rear-side frame... the rear-side frame which is apart from the cabin has been crushed and deformed
Implementation Method 2
the strength of the overlap portion of the front-side and rear-side frames is greater than that of the front-side frame excluding the overlap portion with the rear-side frame... suppressing of any breakage of the rear side frame
Data Source
AI summary
A rear side frame comprises a front-side frame and a rear-side frame which is provided in back of the front-side frame and configured such that a strength thereof against compressing of an axial direction is lower than that of the front-side frame, a rear end portion of the front-side frame and a front end portion of the rear-side frame are overlapped, and another vehicle-body member is connected to an overlap portion where the rear end portion of the front-side frame and the front end portion of the rear-side frame are overlapped.