Vehicle Frame K-Structure Offset Collision Load Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle body structures are inadequately designed to withstand and distribute the forces from small overlap or narrow offset frontal collisions, which can lead to direct impact on the front wheel and suspension system, causing structural buckling and inadequate protection for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure featuring a main frame assembly with side rails, cross-members, and a front frame structure comprising diagonal and lateral members that transfer impact loads from one side rail to the other, distributing crash forces and preventing buckling, while using high-tensile steel for increased rigidity and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional crush-zone structures concentrated in the middle 50% of the front end are used, then head-on collisions and moderate overlap frontal crashes are well protected, but narrow offset frontal collisions cause direct impact on front wheel and suspension system with inadequate protection
Solution Approach 1:
The front frame structure is segmented into multiple functional components: diagonal members for load transfer, lateral members for distributing forces across the vehicle width, and longitudinal members for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in handling specific aspects of narrow offset collision forces, improving overall protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The front frame structure employs asymmetric configuration where diagonal members are positioned and oriented to specifically address narrow offset collision scenarios. The diagonal members extend at specific angles from the lateral members to optimally redirect impact forces away from the occupant compartment, creating an asymmetric load path that is particularly effective for off-center impacts.
2Strength
If high-tensile steel is used for the front frame structure, then rigidity and strength are increased for better crash protection, but manufacturing cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
High-tensile steel is applied locally to critical components of the front frame structure, specifically the diagonal members and lateral members that bear the primary load during narrow offset collisions. Other non-critical structural components may use standard steel grades, optimizing the strength-to-weight ratio by concentrating high-strength material only where it provides maximum crash protection benefit.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body structure includes a floor connected to a main frame assembly. The main frame assembly includes first and second side rails and interconnecting cross-members. A front frame structure located near a forward part of the vehicle body structure is connected to the main frame assembly. The front frame structure includes first and second diagonal members and a laterally extending member. Each of the first and second diagonal members includes a forward end portion connected to the main frame assembly and a rearward end portion connected to the lateral member. The rearward end portions converge toward one another and the lateral member is connected to the first and second side rails. The front frame structure transfers an impact load caused by a narrow offset frontal collision from the first side rail to the second side rail by transferring the load through the front frame structure.