Vehicle Side Structure Using Rocker Extension Against Pillar Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle side collision structures fail to effectively suppress the collapsing-in of pillars towards the vehicle's transverse direction during a side collision, compromising the protection of the vehicle cabin.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side portion structure featuring a rocker with a main body portion and an extending portion, connected to a frame member, which includes a battery side frame, is designed to absorb collision energy by leveraging the torsional rigidity of the frame member and battery case, with fasteners and brackets to enhance rigidity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rocker is disposed only at the vehicle upper side of the frame member, then the structure is simpler, but the pillar collapses-in more easily toward the vehicle transverse direction inner side during side collision
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker is extended from a single-position structure at the vehicle upper side to a multi-dimensional structure that spans from the vehicle upper side to the vehicle lower side of the frame member. This spatial extension creates a more effective anti-collapse configuration by distributing the pillar support across multiple vertical positions, thereby suppressing pillar collapsing-in during side collision while maintaining structural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker is designed with an extending portion that dynamically positions itself to receive upwardly-directed reaction force from the frame member during collision. This dynamic configuration allows the rocker to adaptively respond to collision forces, optimizing the suppression of pillar collapsing-in while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the rocker spans from the vehicle upper side to the vehicle lower side of the frame member, then the pillar collapse suppression is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker is segmented into a main body portion and an extending portion, each serving distinct functional roles. The main body portion is disposed at the vehicle upper side while the extending portion reaches toward the vehicle lower side. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve enhanced pillar collapse suppression through multi-position support while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and structural clarity.
3Strength
If the extending portion receives upwardly-directed reaction force from the frame member, then the collapsing-in of the rocker is suppressed, but the load transmission path becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The extending portion of the rocker acts as an intermediary element that receives upwardly-directed reaction force from the frame member and transmits it to the main body portion. This intermediary configuration effectively suppresses rocker collapsing-in during side collision by creating a favorable load transmission path, while the direct connection to the frame member keeps the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.
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 structure effectively suppresses the collapsing-in of the rocker and pillar, enhancing the protection of the vehicle cabin by distributing and absorbing collision forces through the frame and battery case, thereby increasing the vehicle's structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
due to the extending portion receiving upwardly-directed reaction force from the frame member, collapsing-in of the rocker toward the vehicle transverse direction inner side is suppressed
Implementation Method 2
the rocker is crushingly deformed smoothly at the time when the pillar collapses-in toward the vehicle transverse direction inner side
Implementation Method 3
collapsing-in of the rocker toward the vehicle transverse direction inner side can be suppressed by utilizing the torsional rigidity of the frame member
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle side portion structure has: a pillar 32 extending in a vehicle vertical direction at a vehicle side portion 10; a rocker 34 extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction at a lower side of the pillar 32 and connected to the pillar 32, and structured to include a main body portion 56 and an extending portion 58 that extends toward a vehicle transverse direction inner side from an upper portion of the main body portion 56; and a frame member 28 disposed at a vehicle transverse direction inner side of the main body portion 56 and a vehicle lower side of the extending portion 58.