Variable Thickness Front Side Member for Vehicle Collision Sinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle collisions, the conventional front side member design leads to significant sinking and vibration, compromising passenger safety due to excessive impact on the front side member and subsequent deformation, which affects airbag performance.
Innovation Solution
A front side member with a variable thickness structure along the vehicle's height, featuring a front horizontal body, a rear downward sloping body, and a variable thickness part that decreases from top to bottom, integrated between the engine mount and shock absorber position, allowing for controlled bending deformation during impacts to reduce sinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front side member has a uniform thickness structure, then the manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective, but the sinking phenomenon occurs during collision compromising passenger safety
Solution Approach 1:
The front side member employs a variable thickness structure where the thickness changes along the height direction. Specifically, the thickness is greater at the upper portion and smaller at the lower portion, allowing different regions to perform different functions: the upper thick portion resists bending moments during collision to prevent sinking, while the lower thin portion reduces overall weight and cost.
2Strength
If the front side member thickness is increased throughout, then the strength and resistance to collision impact is improved, but the overall weight increases reducing fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The front side member employs a variable thickness structure where the thickness changes along the height direction. Specifically, the thickness is greater at the upper portion and smaller at the lower portion, allowing different regions to perform different functions: the upper thick portion resists bending moments during collision to prevent sinking, while the lower thin portion reduces overall weight and cost.
3Reliability
If the front side member has a variable thickness structure, then the sinking phenomenon is reduced enhancing passenger safety, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The front side member employs a variable thickness structure where the thickness changes along the height direction. Specifically, the thickness is greater at the upper portion and smaller at the lower portion, allowing different regions to perform different functions: the upper thick portion resists bending moments during collision to prevent sinking, while the lower thin portion reduces overall weight and cost.
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 variable thickness design reduces sinking during collisions, enhances passenger safety by lifting the vehicle body, decreases overall weight, and improves vehicle performance and fuel efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for controlled bending deformation during impacts to reduce sinking
Data Source
AI summary
A structure of a front side member of a vehicle includes a front side member body mounted to a lower right side and a lower left side of the vehicle and extending along a length direction of the vehicle. The front side member includes a variable thickness part formed along the length of the vehicle and having a thickness that varies along the height of the vehicle.