Vehicle Buckling Element for Pedestrian Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle designs face challenges in absorbing energy during collisions, particularly pedestrian impacts, as the front section needs to be soft to absorb energy effectively while maintaining structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A flexible buckling element with adapted area moments of inertia is integrated between the outer body parts and the basic body, designed to buckle under compressive forces and bending moments, allowing for energy absorption and distribution across a wide area, reducing the risk of damage to the vehicle and pedestrians.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the front section is made soft to absorb energy effectively, then energy absorption capability is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a buckling element with non-uniform cross-sectional properties. The area moment of inertia is specifically adapted at predetermined sections to create zones of varying flexibility. This allows the front section to be soft where needed for energy absorption while maintaining structural integrity in other areas through the integrated design of the buckling element that connects to the rigid basic body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the area moment of inertia along the length of the buckling element. By changing this geometric parameter at predetermined sections, the structural properties are optimized to provide both flexibility for energy absorption and sufficient strength for structural integrity. The support and clamping conditions are also adapted to achieve the desired balance between softness and strength.
2Loss of energy
If a flexible buckling element is introduced to absorb impact energy, then energy absorption is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the buckling element as part of the outer body part rather than as a separate component. The buckling element is formed integrally with the outer body panel, which reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall structure. This integrated design maintains the energy absorption function while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, fasteners, and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes flexible shells by designing the buckling element as a thin-walled structural component with optimized cross-sectional properties. This approach allows the element to buckle and deform in a controlled manner to absorb impact energy while maintaining a simple geometric form that can be manufactured using standard sheet metal forming or plastic injection molding processes, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If the buckling element is designed with adapted area moments of inertia at predetermined sections, then energy absorption efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the complex geometric features at specific predetermined sections of the buckling element rather than throughout the entire structure. The area moment of inertia is adapted only where needed to optimize energy absorption, while other sections can be manufactured with standard tolerances. This localized approach to geometric complexity reduces overall manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by strategically varying the area moment of inertia at predetermined sections rather than requiring uniform high precision throughout. The support and clamping conditions are also adapted to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. This approach allows for efficient energy absorption while maintaining feasible manufacturing precision requirements through selective parameter optimization.
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 buckling element effectively absorbs impact energy by deforming and distributing it across the vehicle body, reducing the force of the collision and protecting both the vehicle and pedestrians from injury.
Implementation Method 1
Buckling refers to the loss of stability of the buckling element, culminating in sudden and violent failure. The buckling element is preferably designed with at least one straight or slightly curved rod or beam. This buckling element is positioned so that the impact energy is introduced into it under the influence of compressive forces whose line of action lies along the rod axis, and/or under the influence of bending moments.
Implementation Method 2
The loss of stability manifests itself in rapidly increasing deformations of the buckling element above a certain load (buckling load), specifically as lateral deflection of the rod or beam axis (flexural buckling), twisting of the rod or beam cross-section (torsional buckling), or lateral deflection of the rod or beam axis and twisting of the rod or beam cross-section (lateral-torsional buckling).
Implementation Method 3
The folding element according to the invention is designed with an elongated folding edge. This results in a planar folding element which is deformed in a controlled manner along the folding edge upon impact. In this way, impact energy can also be transferred to areas of the vehicle body that are located away from the point of impact.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle (10), in particular an automobile or truck, having a base body (12) for supporting at least one outside body part (20), wherein the outside body part (20) is held on the base body (12) by at least one articulating element (32), which, upon the effect of a defined external force, articulates and is thus predeterminedly deformable.