Vehicle Side Reinforcement Structure for Small Overlap Collision Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle collisions, particularly small overlap collisions, significant shock energy is transmitted to the side structure, leading to excessive deformation of weak parts and potential injury to passengers due to inadequate distribution of rigidity and shock energy.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body reinforcement structure comprising a side outer panel, a side inner panel, a door hinge box, a door lower hinge reinforcement plate, a bulkhead, and a reinforcement bracket that distributes shock energy across these components to enhance rigidity and prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shock energy is transmitted to the side structure in a collision, then the door and passenger space may be crushed, but adding reinforcement structures increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The side structure is divided into multiple functional components: door hinge box, door lower hinge reinforcement plate, bulk head, and side seal. Each component is positioned at specific locations to distribute shock energy along the side structure, preventing concentration of force at single weak points while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Reinforcement elements are strategically placed at critical locations where shock energy is most likely to concentrate: the door hinge box at the upper door hinge position, the door lower hinge reinforcement plate at the lower door hinge position, and the side seal at the lower side structure. This localized reinforcement approach provides targeted protection without uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire structure.
2Strength
If reinforcement structures are added to distribute shock energy, then rigidity and passenger protection improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement system is segmented into discrete components (door hinge box, reinforcement plate, bulk head, side seal) that can be manufactured separately using standard fabrication processes and then assembled to the side structure. This modular approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to creating a monolithic reinforced structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement components are designed to be pre-assembled or pre-positioned at critical locations before final vehicle assembly. The door hinge box, reinforcement plate, and side seal are configured in advance to ensure proper alignment and shock distribution, reducing on-site manufacturing complexity and ensuring consistent quality.
3Reliability
If the side structure is reinforced to prevent deformation, then passenger safety improves, but the weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly reinforcing the entire side structure, reinforcement elements are placed only at critical locations where shock energy concentration would cause failure: the door hinge box at the upper hinge, the reinforcement plate at the lower hinge, and the side seal at the lower side structure. This localized approach provides maximum collision resistance with minimum additional weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The side structure is segmented into critical and non-critical zones. Reinforcement components are applied only to critical zones that require enhanced collision resistance, while non-critical areas maintain their original lighter construction. This selective reinforcement strategy optimizes the weight-to-protection ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body having a reinforcement structure includes a side outer panel on an outer side of the vehicle body, a side inner panel on an inner side of the vehicle body at a predetermined distance from the side outer panel, a door hinge box attached to an upper portion of an inner side of the side inner panel, a door lower hinge reinforcement plate attached to a lower portion of the inner side of the side inner panel, vertically at a predetermined distance from the door hinge box, a bulk head attached to an upper end of the door lower reinforcement plate, with one end attached to an inner side of the side outer panel and the other end attached to an outer side of the side inner panel, and a reinforcement bracket disposed in an up-down direction to connect the door hinge box and the bulk head.