Vehicular Frame Partition Walls for Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular frames face challenges in enhancing energy absorption efficiency (EA efficiency) during front impacts, which limits design options and increases vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular frame design featuring a main frame with reinforcing members that create closed cross-sections, including compression-side and tension-side wall portions, and partition wall portions with ridges, allowing for enhanced load distribution and truss structure formation upon deformation, thereby improving EA efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the front side frame is designed to actively deform and bend from an intermediate portion to a rear end, then the energy absorption amount increases, but the energy absorption efficiency (EA efficiency) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space of the main frame is divided into multiple compartments by partition wall portions, creating multiple closed cross-sections. This segmentation increases the moment of inertia and strengthens the frame structure, enabling it to maintain higher critical load capacity during deformation while improving energy absorption efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Partition wall portions extend in the width direction to divide the internal space, adding a dimensional element to the structure. This creates multiple closed cross-sections that resist deformation more effectively, increasing the frame's critical load capacity and energy absorption efficiency without sacrificing the bending deformation capability
2Strength
If high tensile strength steel is used for the front side frame, then the strength increases, but the vehicle body weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the internal space into multiple closed cross-sections using partition wall portions, the structure achieves higher strength and stiffness without increasing material quantity. This allows the use of optimized steel grades that balance strength requirements with weight reduction goals
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure combines the main frame with reinforcing partition wall portions to create a composite structural system. This composite design achieves enhanced strength and critical load capacity through structural configuration rather than relying solely on high-strength materials, enabling weight optimization
3Ease of manufacture
If the main frame is designed with a simple closed cross-section, then the manufacturing is simple, but the critical load capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space is segmented into multiple closed cross-sections by partition wall portions, which can be formed through stamping or welding processes. This segmentation significantly increases the moment of inertia and critical load capacity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard fabrication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall portions are designed with bent configurations featuring compression-side ridges and tension-side ridges. These curved elements efficiently distribute stresses during deformation, enhancing the critical load capacity and energy absorption characteristics while remaining manufacturable
4Use of energy by moving object
If the frame structure is designed to absorb more energy, then the energy absorption amount increases, but the design options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The modular partition wall structure can be configured in various patterns and positions, providing multiple design options for achieving different energy absorption targets. The segmentation approach allows flexible adaptation to various vehicle platform requirements while maintaining high energy absorption efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall portions serve multiple functions: they strengthen the frame structure, increase critical load capacity, improve energy absorption efficiency, and provide mounting positions for other components. This multi-functionality expands design options while achieving superior energy absorption performance
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 enhanced frame design increases the critical load capacity, prevents collapse, and improves energy absorption efficiency by forming truss structures during impact, leading to a more efficient and lightweight vehicle structure.
Implementation Method 1
a compression-side wall portion extending in the vertical direction and configured to receive a compressive load in an impact of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a tension-side wall portion extending in the vertical direction and facing the compression-side wall portion in a width direction of the vehicle, and configured to receive a tensile load in the impact of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
each of the first to third partition wall portions is bended at a plurality of positions between the compression-side wall portion and the tension-side wall portion, and has a compression-side ridge extending in the front-rear direction and a tension-side ridge
Implementation Method 4
allowing the front side frame to actively deform to bend from an intermediate portion to a rear end thereof
Implementation Method 5
most of an impact load is absorbed by the bending deformation of the front side frame
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a front side frame 2, comprising: a main frame 201; and reinforcing members 30, 40, 50 disposed inside the main frame 2, wherein the reinforcing member 30 includes partition wall portions 31b, 32d, 32e dividing a main closed cross-section C_m of the main frame 201 into a plurality of sub closed-cross sections c, the first to third partition wall portions 31b, 32d, 32e being respectively formed with compression-side ridges 31s, 32s, 32u vertically facing each other and able to come into contact with each other in a deformation of the front side frame 2, and tension-side ridges 31t, 32t, 32v arranged in the same manner.