Subframe Mounting Layout for Small Overlap Crash Load Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small overlap frontal crashes, vehicles face challenges in effectively absorbing impact forces due to a small overlapping area between the vehicle and a barrier, resulting in a significant impact force being transmitted to the passenger compartment.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design includes a front longitudinal beam, a subframe, and a subframe front mounting point, where the subframe front mounting point is positioned on the outer side of the front longitudinal beam, expanding the force-bearing area and increasing the overlapping area with the barrier during a crash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the vehicle uses a conventional front longitudinal beam structure with mounting points on the beam, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the overlapping area with the barrier in small overlap frontal crashes is small, causing large impact force to be transmitted to the passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The subframe front mounting point is positioned on the outer side of the front longitudinal beam in the width direction, extending the force-bearing area laterally. This dimensional extension increases the overlapping area with the barrier during small overlap frontal crashes, allowing more of the impact force to be absorbed by the front longitudinal beam deformation rather than being transmitted to the passenger compartment.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle absorbs energy through front longitudinal beam deformation, then the impact force transmitted to the passenger compartment is reduced, but in small overlap frontal crashes the passenger compartment still bears relatively large impact force due to small overlapping area
Solution Approach 1:
The subframe front mounting point is pre-positioned on the outer side of the front longitudinal beam, creating a ready-to-engage geometry before the crash occurs. During small overlap frontal crashes, this pre-positioned mounting point immediately engages with the barrier, allowing the front longitudinal beam to begin deforming and absorbing energy right from the initial impact, maximizing energy absorption before forces can transmit to the passenger compartment.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle comprises a front longitudinal beam, a subframe and a subframe front mounting point, wherein the subframe front mounting point is connected to the front longitudinal beam, the subframe front mounting point is arranged on the outside of the front longitudinal beam in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and the subframe is connected to the front longitudinal beam by means of the subframe front mounting point.