Vehicle Reinforcement Member for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle frame designs face a compromise between weight and strength, requiring a balance between rigidity and deformation for impact absorption, which is not adequately addressed in existing structures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle structure comprising a first and second member extending in a longitudinal direction, with reinforcement members having transverse legs and a corrugated head section, forming a closed space to enhance deformation and rigidity while reducing weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a frame portion is made from metal plates or metal alloy plates formed into a requested shape, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is designed with non-uniform cross-section featuring a thickest section at the apex and progressively thinner sections toward the edges, creating local variations in material distribution. This allows the structure to have higher strength where needed (at the apex for impact resistance) while reducing weight in less critical areas (at the edges), directly resolving the contradiction between structural strength and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement member combines metal plate material with a specific corrugated geometric structure to create a composite-like behavior. The corrugated shape with ridges and grooves provides enhanced mechanical properties (higher strength-to-weight ratio) compared to a flat plate of the same mass, effectively using structural complexity to overcome material limitations
2Stability of the object's composition
If the frame portion is designed to have certain rigidity to receive various impacts, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to deform for absorbing impacts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is designed with dynamic characteristics through its corrugated structure, allowing it to transition from a rigid state during normal operation to a deformable state during impact. The corrugations can compress and deform in a controlled manner during collisions, absorbing impact energy while maintaining structural integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and deformation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the reinforcement member are specifically optimized - the corrugation depth, ridge spacing, and wall thickness variations - to enable controlled deformation under impact loads. These parameter changes allow the structure to maintain rigidity under normal conditions while permitting beneficial deformation during collisions to absorb energy
3Strength
If reinforcement members are added to improve rigidity and prevent penetration, then the structural strength is improved, but the weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thick reinforcement, the design uses local quality variation with the thickest section at the apex providing maximum strength where penetration risk is highest, while thinner sections at the edges reduce overall weight. This localized reinforcement strategy achieves the required rigidity and penetration resistance without the weight penalty of uniform thickening
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated structure with curved ridges and grooves provides superior mechanical efficiency compared to flat surfaces. The curved geometry distributes stresses more effectively, allowing the reinforcement member to achieve higher rigidity and impact resistance with less material, thereby reducing weight while maintaining or improving strength
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 innovative reinforcement member improves the vehicle's performance in collisions by allowing advantageous deformation while maintaining or improving rigidity, thus enhancing the vehicle's structural integrity and reducing weight and cost.
Implementation Method 1
the head section is corrugated and comprises corrugations, wherein the corrugations comprise ridges and grooves... allowing advantageous deformation of the vehicle structure for absorbing impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle structure comprising a portion extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the portion comprises a first member extending in the longitudinal direction and a second member extending in the longitudinal direction. The first member is con-figured to face an inside of a vehicle, and the second member is configured to face an outside of the vehicle. The first and second members are attached to one another to form a substantially closed space between them. The portion comprises a wave-shaped reinforcement member located in a substantially closed space. The substantially closed space is formed when the first and second members are attached to one another.