Vehicle Side Structure with Distributed Suspension Load Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle side structures inadequately address the transfer of road surface loads, leading to potential deformation of the vehicle body, particularly around the wheel well and door opening areas.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side structure comprising a wheel arch with a suspension attachment, a high-rigidity opening panel, a strainer, and a roof side rail, which distribute road surface loads through multiple pathways to prevent deformation, including the use of a resin design panel for weight reduction and improved design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the suspension absorbs road surface load, then the impact from road surface is reduced, but the load is still transferred to the vehicle body causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The opening panel serves as an intermediary structural element between the suspension attachment portion and the vehicle body. It receives the load from the suspension and distributes it across its structure, preventing direct transfer to the vehicle body that would cause deformation. The panel acts as a mediator that converts concentrated suspension loads into distributed stresses across the panel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The side structure is segmented into multiple load-bearing components: the opening panel, the strainer, and the roof side rail. Each component handles a specific portion of the load, distributing the total force from the suspension across multiple structural elements rather than concentrating it in one location, thereby preventing vehicle body deformation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the opening panel has high rigidity to prevent deformation, then vehicle body deformation is suppressed, but the overall vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening panel is constructed using composite materials that provide high rigidity and strength while maintaining relatively low weight. This allows the panel to effectively resist deformation under suspension loads without requiring excessive material mass, thus achieving the desired stiffness-weight balance for preventing vehicle body deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
High rigidity is concentrated locally in the opening panel and strainer components where load transfer is critical, rather than uniformly throughout the entire vehicle structure. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary deformation resistance at key stress points while minimizing overall vehicle weight by avoiding unnecessary rigidity in non-critical areas.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the strainer is added to transfer load, then deformation prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer component serves multiple functions: it transfers load from the suspension attachment portion, provides structural reinforcement, and works in conjunction with the opening panel and roof side rail to create a distributed load transfer system. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple performance benefits from a single component addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer is integrated with the existing opening panel and roof side rail structure rather than being a completely separate addition. The load transfer path combines the strainer with the panel structure, merging multiple load transfer functions into a unified structural system that reduces the overall complexity compared to having entirely separate components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle side structure includes: a wheel arch portion placed at a rear side in relation to a side door opening, and having a suspension attachment portion; a side panel placed at an upper side of the wheel arch portion, that functions as a barrier separating an interior and an exterior of a vehicle; and an opening panel that covers a periphery of the side door opening from an outer side of a vehicle. The opening panel includes a first pillar which defines a rear end edge of the side door opening, and a rear end of the opening panel is positioned at a vehicle rear side in relation to the suspension attachment portion.