Vehicle Body Front Structure Lateral Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle body front structures are insufficient in reducing deformation during both full-wrap frontal collisions and small-overlap frontal collisions, particularly due to inadequate lateral force generation and potential buckling deformation of V-shaped braces.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body front structure comprising front side frames, upper side frames, a radiator support, and a lower frame, with lower side frame extension members and gussets that extend from the lower frame towards the front of the vehicle, providing additional stiffness and lateral force resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If V-shaped braces are used to couple front side members and suspension members, then lateral force is generated in small-overlap frontal collisions, but buckling deformation occurs in the braces and deformation suppression is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces lower side frame extension members that extend in the vehicle width direction beyond the front side frames, adding a lateral dimension to the force transmission path. This dimensional extension allows collision forces to be distributed laterally to the suspension members through the lower frame, providing an additional force transmission dimension that supplements the conventional V-shaped brace configuration and prevents brace buckling while maintaining lateral force generation capability
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional vehicle body front structures are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but deformation suppression against both full-wrap and small-overlap frontal collisions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the lower frame into a conventional portion and extension members that protrude laterally beyond the front side frames. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain the simplicity of conventional designs in the majority of the frame while adding targeted lateral extension segments that provide enhanced collision resistance. The extension members are positioned specifically at the lower side to work with the suspension members, creating multiple force transmission paths without requiring complete redesign of the entire frame structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality enhancement by extending only the lower side frame members laterally beyond the front side frames, rather than extending the entire frame structure. This localized modification concentrates the deformation suppression capability at the critical lower regions where collision forces are transmitted to the suspension members, while maintaining the simplicity of the upper frame structure. The extension members are positioned to provide optimal leverage and force distribution exactly where needed
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body front structure includes: front side frames extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle body on left and right sides of the vehicle body; upper side frames disposed on both sides of a power unit room in a vehicle width direction; a radiator support disposed in a front portion of the power unit room and joined to front ends of the upper side frames; and a lower frame disposed below and supported by the front side frames; lower side frame extension members in a pair extending from a front end of the lower frame toward the vehicle body's front and having a front end portion protruding forward of the radiator support; and gussets in a pair extending from the front end of the lower frame toward the vehicle body's front and having front ends outside front ends of the front side frames in the vehicle width direction.