Vehicle Front Body Structure for Small Overlap Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Small overlap frontal collisions in vehicles often bypass the main load path of the front body structure, making them harder to mitigate and resulting in continued damage as the vehicle slides along the source of impact.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle front body structure with an impact force transfer mechanism that changes the direction of force from longitudinal to lateral, using a crossbar and end member to redirect collision forces to a solid body, allowing the vehicle to move away from the impact point while minimizing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the front body structure uses traditional main load path design for head-on collisions, then large overlap collisions are mitigated effectively, but small overlap collisions bypass the load path causing continued damage
Solution Approach 1:
The front body structure is divided into separate functional components: the main load path structure for head-on collisions and the impact force transfer mechanism for small overlap collisions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact force transfer mechanism acts as an intermediary between the collision source and the vehicle body. It receives impact forces from small overlap collisions and transfers them laterally to the solid body, preventing direct transmission of damage through the vehicle.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle continues moving longitudinally after small overlap collision, then the collision force is not fully absorbed, but the vehicle slides along the source of impact causing further damage
Solution Approach 1:
The impact force transfer mechanism converts the harmful longitudinal sliding motion into beneficial lateral movement. By redirecting the impact force laterally, the vehicle is pushed away from the collision source, transforming the harmful continuous contact into a single impact event that absorbs energy effectively.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If impact force transfer mechanism is activated during small overlap collision, then the vehicle moves away from impact point reducing damage, but other components like crash box may be unnecessarily activated
Solution Approach 1:
The impact force transfer mechanism is positioned and configured to respond specifically to small overlap collision forces. Its local positioning at the front corner allows it to detect and respond to directional forces from small overlap collisions without triggering the crash box, which is designed for different collision modes.
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
Effectively mitigates damage by redirecting collision forces laterally, reducing unnecessary activation of other components and preventing further damage to the vehicle during small overlap collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an impact force transfer mechanism configured to change a direction of a force created due to a small overlap collision from a longitudinal direction into a lateral direction
Implementation Method 2
change an impact force direction to a lateral direction for transmitting an impact force to the corresponding longitudinal structure member and the solid body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a vehicle front body structure for small overlap mitigation. The vehicle front body structure comprises a pair of longitudinal structural members (201, 203). The front body structure also comprises a crossbar (205) connecting the pair of longitudinal structural members (201, 203), such that the crossbar (205) further comprises an end member (207, 209) which is structurally free from a side surface of a corresponding longitudinal structural member (201, 203). The front body structure further comprises a front compartment (206) formed inside the pair of longitudinal structural members (201, 203) and the crossbar (205) and a solid body (208) comprised within the front compartment (206). The front body structure also comprises an impact force transfer mechanism (211, 213) comprised outside of the front compartment (206), where the impact force transfer mechanism (211, 213) comprising the end member (207, 209) and the corresponding longitudinal structural member (201, 203). When the end member (207, 209) undergoes a predetermined amount of deformation, the end member (207, 209) contacts the side surface of the corresponding longitudinal structural member (201, 203). Thereafter, the impact force transfer mechanism (211, 213) is configured to change an impact force direction to a lateral direction for transmitting the impact force to the corresponding longitudinal structure member (201, 203) and the solid body (208).