Vehicle Lower-Body Side Sill Reinforcement for Small-Overlap Collision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle side structures fail to effectively generate a reaction force in the vehicle width direction during a small overlap collision, leading to potential crushing of the side sill front end part and excessive reinforcement of the vehicle body.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-body lower structure with a side sill forming a closed cross section, incorporating an outer-side and inner-side reinforcement members that collaborate to inhibit deformation and generate a reaction force, utilizing a diagonal inner-side reinforcement member with a bead to enhance bending rigidity and load transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an outer-side reinforcement member is provided on the inner face of the side sill outer front end part, then the side sill front end part is reinforced against small overlap collision, but the side sill outer may still be displaced inward together with the reinforcement member when load is input, so that the intended reaction force cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The side sill is divided into two separate components: the side sill outer and the side sill inner. The outer-side reinforcement member reinforces the side sill outer, while the inner-side reinforcement member reinforces the side sill inner. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, preventing the displacement problem where the reinforcement member and side sill move together as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The side sill inner acts as an intermediary component between the outer-side reinforcement member and the vehicle body structure. When collision load is applied, the side sill outer with its reinforcement member resists the load, and this force is transmitted through the side sill inner to generate the necessary reaction force, preventing direct displacement of the reinforcement member with the side sill outer.
2Strength
If the side sill front end part is reinforced to resist collision load, then the reaction force in the vehicle width direction can be generated, but the vehicle body may be reinforced excessively
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement is applied locally only to the front end parts of the side sill outer and side sill inner where collision loads are concentrated, rather than reinforcing the entire side sill or vehicle body. The outer-side and inner-side reinforcement members are positioned specifically at the front end portions that require strength enhancement, maintaining overall vehicle weight efficiency while achieving the necessary reaction force generation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A side sill that is disposed in a lower part and on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of a vehicle and has a side sill inner and a side sill outer which collaborate with each other to form a closed cross section extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; a wheel that is located ahead of the side sill outer; an outer-side reinforcement member that has a shape extending along a front face part and a side face part in a front end part of the side sill outer and is joined to the front end part from inside the closed cross section; and an inner-side reinforcement member that diagonally couples a front face part and a side face part in a front end part of the side sill inner to each other.