Effect of subframe structure on compatibility performance

With an aim to improve compatibility performance, vehicle-to-vehicle frontal impact simulations have been conducted between large car and small car.

Focusing on sub-frame structure that disperses applied force with multiple load paths, a large saloon car with sub-frame was selected and three different front structures were studied: original, forward-extended sub-frame, and original with 25%-stiffness reduced structures. The types of collision contained four different crash modes in a combination of lateral overlap rate difference and side member height difference.

As a result, it was found that the front structure with forward-extended sub-frame improved aggressivity by preventing override effect through structural interaction enhancement. Height of Force (HOF) was also improved.