Small Overlap Impact Countermeasure-Front Door Hinge Pillar Dual Box

Since the inception of the IIHS Small Overlap Impact (SOI) test in 2012, automotive manufacturers have implemented many solutions in the vehicle body structure to achieve an IIHS “Good” rating. There are two main areas of the vehicle: forward of vehicle cockpit and immediately surrounding the vehicle cockpit, which typically work together for SOI to mitigate crash energy and prevent intrusion into the passenger zones. The structures forward of vehicle cockpit are designed to either 1) absorb vehicle energy from impact to the barrier, or 2) provide enough strength and rigidity to aid deflection of the vehicle away from the barrier. The structures which are immediately surrounding the vehicle cockpit (known as pillars and rocker/sills) are traditionally components designed to be highly rigid sheet metal panels to protect the occupant during crash events. This paper focuses on a concept for a portion of the cockpit structure that combines energy absorption and high rigidity structure, which are not typical in this area of a vehicle’s architecture. Using CAE methods, it is observed that a vehicle’s SOI structural rating will be enhanced utilizing the presented concept.