JP2021095048A - Vehicle pillar structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle pillar structure that is able to reduce weight while securing strength when an impact load is input from outside the vehicle.SOLUTION: In the structure of a center pillar 10 in which a closed cross-sectional shape is formed continuously in a vehicle vertical direction Dh by joining, at both side edges 13a, an inner panel 11 extending in the vehicle vertical direction Dh and a center pillar RF13 disposed on the vehicle outside Do with respect to the inner panel 11 and whose hat-shaped cross-section is continuous in the vehicle vertical direction Dh. The center pillar RF13 comprises: an external wall portion 13b provided at the top of the hat-shaped cross-section; and a vertical wall portion 13c provided between the external wall portion 13b and each side edge 13a. The vertical wall portion 13c has a curved shape continuous without a corner such that the angle θ of the side edge 13a to the inner panel 11 gradually decreases from the external wall portion 13b to each side edge 13a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a pillar structure for a vehicle having a closed cross-sectional shape.

Conventionally, a first panel extending in one direction and a second panel arranged on the outside of the vehicle on the first panel and having a hat-shaped cross section are joined at both side edges to form a closed cross-sectional shape continuously in one direction. Various pillars for vehicles have been proposed.

For example, in Patent Document 1 below, the first surface portion and the wide second surface portion face each other, and the widthwise ends of the first surface portion and the second surface portion are connected by two side surface portions to form a closed cross section. In the vehicle frame structure, a structure has been proposed in which a bent portion protruding inward of a closed cross section is provided at an intermediate position between a first surface portion and a second surface portion on each side surface portion.

In such a vehicle frame structure, when an external input load acts on an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction on the first surface portion, a force acting outward on the closed cross section is applied to the end portion on the first surface portion side of the side surface portion or its vicinity. Although it is generated, a force for canceling the outward force of the closed cross section is generated by the bent portion protruding inward of the closed cross section. Therefore, even if a large external input load acts on the first surface portion, it is said that buckling on the first surface portion side of the side surface portion can be prevented.

In Patent Document 2 below, the pillar outer member and the pillar inner member are arranged to face each other and welded and fixed at the flange portions on both side edges. The pillar outer member is provided with an outer wall portion and a pair of side wall portions, and the side wall portion has a vehicle width. A vehicle side structure has been proposed in which a ridgeline is provided by bending in the middle of the direction. In this structure, when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the side wall portion bends with the ridge line as the base point, thereby preventing excessive load from being concentrated on the flange portion and breaking the welding point at the flange portion. Is suppressed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-159121 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-94964

However, in such a conventional pillar for a vehicle, by providing a bent portion extending in the longitudinal direction on the vertical wall portion between the outer wall portion on the outer side of the vehicle and the inner wall portion on the inner side of the vehicle arranged opposite to each other, a buckling portion or the like is provided. When an impact load was input from the outside of the vehicle, the vertical wall portion was suppressed from buckling and the vertical wall portion was positively buckled. This is because, in a vehicle pillar provided with a bent portion extending in the longitudinal direction on the vertical wall portion, the strength of the bent portion is discontinuously changed from other parts of the vertical wall portion.

However, as a result of CAE analysis, if the vertical wall portion is provided with a bent portion extending in the longitudinal direction, the initial stage in which the pillar for the vehicle is deformed when an impact load is input from the outside of the vehicle at the time of a side collision or the like. Therefore, it was clarified that the area outside the bent portion of the vertical wall portion had swelling and bending, and the strength of the material could not be fully utilized effectively.
As a result, in the conventional pillars for rolling stock, the strength is secured by increasing the plate thickness of each part such as the outer wall part and the vertical wall part, and there is room for further improvement in the strength when an impact load is input. It turned out to be.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pillar structure for a vehicle capable of reducing the weight while ensuring the strength when an impact load is input from the outside of the vehicle.

In the vehicle pillar structure of the present invention that solves the above problems, a first panel extending in one direction and a second panel arranged outside the first panel and having a hat-shaped cross section continuous in one direction are on both sides. It is a pillar structure for vehicles in which the closed cross-sectional shape is continuously formed in one direction by being joined at the portions, and the second panel includes an outer wall portion provided at the top of the hat-shaped cross section and an outer wall portion. A vertical wall portion provided between each side edge portion is provided, and the vertical wall portion is a corner portion from the outer wall portion to each side edge portion so that the angle of the side edge portion with respect to the first panel gradually decreases. It is characterized by having a continuous curved shape.

In the pillar structure for vehicles of the present invention, it is preferable that the radius of curvature is gradually reduced from the outer wall portion to each side edge portion in the vertical wall portion.
In the pillar structure for vehicles of the present invention, preferably, the angle of the side edge portion with respect to the first panel is perpendicular to the range from the outer end portion continuous with the outer wall portion to the inner end portion continuous with the side edge portion in the vertical wall portion. It changes continuously from the following angles.

According to the pillar structure for a vehicle of the present invention, the second panel, which is joined to the first panel at both side edges to form a closed cross-sectional shape, includes an outer wall portion and vertical wall portions on both sides of the outer wall portion, and the vertical wall portion thereof is provided. Since the wall portion has a continuous curved shape from the outer wall portion to each side edge portion, the strength when an impact load is input from the outside of the vehicle is applied to the vertical wall portion between the outer wall portion and each side edge portion. There are no discontinuously changing parts.

Moreover, since the vertical wall portion is formed in a continuous curved shape without corners from the outer wall portion to each side edge portion so that the angle of the side edge portion with respect to the first panel gradually decreases, it is formed on the outer wall portion side of the second panel. When an impact load is input from the outside of the vehicle, swelling and bending are suppressed on the outer wall side of each vertical wall at the initial stage, and the entire area from the outer wall to the side edge of each vertical wall is suppressed. It can be evenly distributed to support impact loads.

Therefore, according to the vehicle pillar structure of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle pillar structure capable of reducing the weight while ensuring the strength when an impact load is input from the outside of the vehicle.

In the pillar structure for a vehicle of the present invention, if the radius of curvature of the vertical wall portion is gradually reduced from the outer wall portion to each side edge portion, the impact load can be more efficiently distributed and supported over the entire vertical wall from the outside of the vehicle. it can.

In the pillar structure for vehicles of the present invention, in the vertical wall portion, the angle of the side edge portion with respect to the first panel is equal to or less than a right angle in the range from the outer end portion continuous with the outer wall portion to the inner end portion continuous with the side edge portion. If it is configured so as to continuously change from, when an impact load is input to the outer wall portion, swelling and bending of the outer wall portion side of the vertical wall portion are surely prevented, and at the same time, in the vicinity of the first panel of the vertical wall portion. It is possible to prevent the bending portion from being generated and the strength from being lowered.

It is a side view of the pillar structure for a vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 showing a pillar structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional equivalent view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 in a joined state between the first panel and the second panel according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure which shows the cross section of the pillar structure for a vehicle set in Example and Comparative Example of this invention, (a) is the structure of Example 1, (b) is the structure of Comparative Example 1, and (c) is the structure of Comparative Example 2. The structure is shown. FIG. 5 is an FS diagram obtained by simulation in Examples and Comparative Examples of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, as the pillar structure for a vehicle, an example of the structure of the center pillar 10 including three panels combined so as to overlap in the vehicle width direction will be described.

In the structure of the center pillar 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an inner panel 11 as a first panel extending in the vehicle vertical direction Dh as one direction and a hat shape arranged on the vehicle outer side Do from the inner panel 11 It includes a center pillar reinforcement (hereinafter referred to as a center pillar RF) 13 as a second panel whose cross section is continuous in the vehicle vertical direction Dh, and an outer panel 15 extending in the vehicle vertical direction Dh.

Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the inner panel 11 and the outer panel 15 are joined to the roof side rail portion 19 and the rocker portion 17 at the upper and lower ends, and the center pillar RF13 is the roof side rail portion 19. It is arranged in the range from to the middle position of the center pillar 10.

The inner panel 11 has a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the outer shape of the vehicle body and the shape of the passenger compartment, and also has various mounting portions, joint portions, beads, etc., but since it is not the main point of the present invention, detailed descriptions are given in the drawings. It is omitted and shown in a simplified manner in a substantially flat plate shape.
The outer panel 15 has a hat-shaped cross section and extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle Dh, has a shape corresponding to the inner panel, and has various mounting portions and joints in a three-dimensional shape according to the outer shape of the vehicle body and the shape of the passenger compartment. Parts, beads, etc. are provided, but detailed illustrations are omitted.
Flange-shaped side edge portions 15a are provided on both sides of the outer panel 15 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and these side edge portions 15a are joined to the side edge portions 11a on both sides of the inner panel 11 by welding or the like. As a result, a closed cross-sectional shape that is continuous up and down is formed.

The center pillar RF13 has flange-shaped sides provided on both sides in the vehicle front-rear direction Df formed with a width narrower than between the outer wall portion 13b provided at the top of the hat-shaped cross section and both side edge portions 15a of the outer panel 15. It includes an edge portion 13a and a pair of vertical wall portions 13c provided between the outer wall portion 13b and each side edge portion 13a.

The center pillar RF13 has flange-shaped side edge portions 13a on both sides arranged in contact with the side edge portion 11a of the inner panel 11 substantially in parallel, and is joined by welding or the like. In the present embodiment, the side edge portions 13a on both sides are provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the side edge portions 15a of the outer panel 15 are arranged outside the side edge portions 13a to the side of the inner panel 11. It is joined to the edge portion 13a in a laminated state. By joining the center pillar RF13 to the inner panel 11, a closed cross-sectional shape continuous with the vehicle in the vertical direction Dh is formed.

In the center pillar RF13, each vertical wall portion 13c has a specific shape. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, first, between the outer end portion 13d at a position where each vertical wall portion 13c is continuous with the outer wall portion 13b and the inner end portion 13e at a position continuous with each side edge portion 13a. Therefore, the side edge portion 13a has a continuous curved shape without forming a corner portion so that the angle θ with respect to the inner panel 11 gradually decreases, and preferably there is no corner portion and a flat portion.

In each vertical wall portion 13c of the present embodiment, at the outer end portion 13d at a position continuous with the outer wall portion 13b of the vertical wall portion 13c, the angle θ of the side edge portion 13a with respect to the inner panel 11 is equal to or less than a right angle. The angle is preferably less than a right angle, which is close to a right angle. On the other hand, at the inner end portion 13e at a position continuous with the side edge portion 13a and parallel to the inner panel 11, the angle θ of the side edge portion 13a with respect to the inner panel 11 is set to 0 degree. Therefore, in each vertical wall portion 13c, the angle θ of the side edge portion 13a with respect to the inner panel 11 continuously changes from an angle equal to or less than a right angle to 0 degree.

Further, in each vertical wall portion 13c of the present embodiment, the radius of curvature of the curved shape, that is, the radius of curvature of the vertical wall portion 13c in the hat-shaped cross-sectional shape when the center pillar RF13 is cut in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is determined. It is formed so as to be large on the outer wall portion 13b side and smaller on each side edge portion 13a, and the radius of curvature is gradually reduced between the outer wall portion 13b and each side edge portion 13a.
In the present embodiment, the vertical wall portion 13c is divided into a plurality of regions in the inward and outward directions, and the radius of curvature is substantially gradually reduced by changing the radius of curvature for each region.

Further, in the center pillar RF13 of the present embodiment, the portion of the outer wall portion 13b adjacent to the vertical wall portion 13c has a shape curved in the direction opposite to the curved shape of the vertical wall portion 13c, and the radius of curvature has an inflection point. By continuously changing through, a continuous curved shape is maintained without forming corners or flat portions near the boundary between the outer wall portion 13b and the vertical wall portion 13c.

In such a structure of the center pillar 10, when a lateral impact load from the outside of the outer panel 15 to the inside Di of the vehicle is input at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, the outer panel 15 is deformed at the initial stage and the center pillar is formed. An impact load is applied to the RF 13 from the outer wall portion 13b side. When this load is applied to the vertical wall portion 13c, the impact load is efficiently absorbed by being dispersed over the entire vertical wall portion 13c and deforming the closed cross-sectional shape with the inner panel 11.

According to the structure of the center pillar 10 of the present embodiment as described above, the center pillar RF13 which is joined to the inner panel 11 at the side edge portions 13a to form a closed cross-sectional shape is formed on both sides of the outer wall portion 13b and the outer wall portion 13b. Since the vertical wall portion 13c is provided and the vertical wall portion 13c has a continuous curved shape from the outer wall portion 13b to each side edge portion 13a, the strength when an impact load is input from the vehicle outer side Do can be increased. The vertical wall portion 13c between the outer wall portion 13b and each side edge portion 13a does not have a discontinuously changing portion.

Further, from the outer wall portion 13b of the vertical wall portion 13c to each side edge portion 13a, a continuous curved shape is formed so as not to form a corner portion so that the angle θ of the side edge portion 13a with respect to the inner panel 11 gradually decreases. Therefore, when an impact load is input from the vehicle outer side Do to the outer wall portion 13b side of the center pillar RF13, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of swelling or bending on the outer wall portion 13b side of each vertical wall portion 13c at the initial stage, and each vertical The impact load can be supported evenly distributed over the entire area from the outer wall portion 13b to the side edge portion 13a of the wall portion 13c.
As a result, according to the structure of the center pillar 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the weight while ensuring the strength when the impact load is input from the vehicle outer side Do.

In the structure of the center pillar 10 of the present embodiment, the curved shape of the vertical wall portion 13c gradually decreases the radius of curvature from the outer wall portion 13b to each side edge portion 13a, so that the impact load is more efficiently applied to the vertical wall from the vehicle outer side Do. It can be distributed and supported throughout.

In the structure of the center pillar 10 of the present embodiment, the portion of the outer wall portion 13b adjacent to the vertical wall portion 13c is curved in the direction opposite to the curved shape of the vertical wall portion 13c and is continuous with the vertical wall portion 13c without any corners. ing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a bending portion from being generated at the connecting portion with the vertical wall portion 13c and a decrease in strength immediately after the impact load is input to the top of the outer wall portion 13b.

In the structure of the center pillar 10 of the present embodiment, the inner panel of the side edge portion 13a is in the range from the outer end portion 13d continuous with the outer wall portion 13b of the vertical wall portion 13c to the inner end portion 13e continuous with the side edge portion 13a. It is formed by continuously changing the angle θ with respect to 11 from an angle equal to or less than a right angle. Therefore, when an impact load is input to the outer wall portion 13b, it is possible to reliably prevent swelling and bending of the vertical wall portion 13c on the outer wall portion 13b side, and at the same time, a bending portion near the inner panel 11 of the vertical wall portion 13c. It is possible to prevent the strength from being lowered due to the occurrence of.

The present embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention.
In the above embodiment, an example in which the pillar structure for a vehicle of the present invention is applied to the structure of the center pillar 10 has been described, but the present invention is not particularly limited, and the same applies to front pillars, rear pillars, and the like. ..

In the above embodiment, an example of a pillar structure for a vehicle in which three panels of an inner panel 11, a center pillar RF13, and an outer panel 15 are combined in the inward and outward directions of the vehicle will be described, and the first panel will be the inner panel 11. The second panel is the center pillar RF13, but the combination is not particularly limited.

For example, the first panel may be an inner panel 11, the second panel may be an outer panel 15, and another center pillar RF may be arranged between the two to form the vehicle pillar structure of the present invention. Further, it is also possible to form a pillar structure for a vehicle in which the first panel is the inner panel 11, the second panel is the outer panel 15, and the two panels are combined in the vehicle internal and external directions. Further, although the structure of the center pillar 10 has been described above and is arranged in the vertical direction, the present invention can be applied to pillars for automobiles extending in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle front-rear direction.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described.
[Example 1]
Using CAE analysis, a simulation of a vehicle pillar structure whose cross-sectional shape is continuous in the uniaxial direction as shown in FIG. 4A is deformed by inputting a predetermined impact load from the outside of the vehicle in a four-point bending test. Carried out.

This vehicle pillar structure includes an inner panel 11 as a first panel made of a steel material, an outer panel 15 as a second panel made of a steel material arranged on the vehicle outer side Do of the inner panel 11 and having a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape. It includes a center pillar RF13 made of a steel material laminated on the inner side surface of the outer panel 15.
The inner panel 11 is provided with a pair of flange-shaped side edge portions 11a continuous in the longitudinal direction in parallel on both sides in the width direction.

The outer panel 15 has a hat-shaped cross-sectional shape, and has a pair of flange-shaped side edge portions 15a provided continuously in the longitudinal direction at the same intervals as the side edge portions 11a of the inner panel 11 on both sides in the width direction, and a hat. The top of the cross-sectional shape is provided with an outer wall portion 15b provided so as to face the inner panel 11, and a pair of vertical wall portions 15c provided between the outer wall portion 15b and each side edge portion 15a.

The outer wall portion 15b of the outer panel 15 protrudes from the both side edge portions 15a and is formed to have a width narrower than between the both side edge portions 15a. The portion of the outer wall portion 15b adjacent to the vertical wall portion 15c is curved and continuous in the direction opposite to that of the vertical wall portion 15c.
Each vertical wall portion 15c of the outer panel 15 has an angle θ with respect to the side edge portion 11a of the inner panel 11 from the outer end portion at a position continuous with the outer wall portion 13b to the inner end portion at a position continuous with the side edge portion 15a. Has a continuous curved shape so that Further, the radius of curvature of each vertical wall portion 15c gradually decreases from the outer wall portion 15b side to each side edge portion 15a side.

The center pillar RF13 has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the outer side portion of the outer panel 15, and both side edges are fixed to the inner side surface of the vertical wall portion 15c of the outer panel 15 at a position at a certain distance from the inner panel 11. There is.

In the first embodiment, such a center pillar RF13 is overlapped and joined to the inside of the outer wall portion 15b and both vertical wall portions 15c of the outer panel 15, and each side edge portion 15a of the outer panel 15 and each of the inner panel 11 are joined. By joining the side edge portion 11a, the closed cross-sectional shape is linearly continuous to form a pillar structure for a vehicle.

When a 4-point curved CAE was performed on such a pillar structure for a vehicle, an FS diagram as shown in FIG. 5 was obtained. The peak load was 165 kgf and the mass efficiency was 0.156 kgf / mm ² . Further, at the time of deformation, the outer panel 15 was not substantially deformed so as to bulge outward.

[Comparative Example 1]
As shown in FIG. 4B, the pillars for vehicles are all the same as in the first embodiment except that the vertical wall portion 15c of the outer panel 15 is formed in a substantially continuous inclined plane shape without being curved. The structure was set and the simulation was carried out.
FIG. 5 shows an FS diagram obtained by performing a CAE analysis of 4-point bending. The peak load was 142 kgf and the mass efficiency was 0.127 kgf / mm ² . Further, at the time of deformation, the outer panel 15 bulged outward greatly and was deformed.

[Comparative Example 2]
As shown in FIG. 4 (c), the vertical wall portion 15c of the outer panel 15 is formed in two inclined plane shapes bent at an intermediate position along a bending line 15f continuous in the longitudinal direction without being curved. The pillar structure for the vehicle was set in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the simulation was carried out.
FIG. 5 shows an FS diagram obtained by performing a CAE analysis of 4-point bending. The peak load was 156 kgf and the mass efficiency was 0.147 kgf / mm ² . Further, at the time of deformation, the outer panel 15 bulged outward greatly and was deformed.

As is clear from Examples 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, each vertical wall portion 15c of the outer panel 15 which is the second panel has a curved shape without a bent portion as in the embodiment of the present invention, thereby causing a peak. It was confirmed that the load can be increased and the mass efficiency can be improved.

Dh Vehicle vertical direction Do Vehicle outer side Di Vehicle inner side Df Vehicle front-rear direction θ Angle with respect to inner panel 10 Center pillar 11 Inner panel 11a Side edge 13 Center pillar RF
13a Side edge 13b Outer wall 13c Vertical wall 13d Outer end 13e Inner end 15 Outer panel 15a Side edge 15b Outer wall 15c Vertical wall 15f Bending line 17 Rocker 19 Roof side rail

Claims (3)

The closed cross-sectional shape is formed by joining the first panel extending in one direction and the second panel arranged on the outside of the vehicle from the first panel and having a hat-shaped cross section continuous in one direction at both side edges. A vehicle pillar structure continuously formed in one direction.
The second panel includes an outer wall portion provided at the top of the hat-shaped cross section, and a vertical wall portion provided between the outer wall portion and each of the side edge portions.
The vertical wall portion has a continuous curved shape without corners from the outer wall portion to each side edge portion so that the angle of the side edge portion with respect to the first panel gradually decreases. .. The pillar structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the vertical wall portion is gradually reduced from the outer wall portion to each of the side edge portions. In the vertical wall portion, the angle of the side edge portion with respect to the first panel is continuous from an angle equal to or less than a right angle in the range from the outer end portion continuous with the outer wall portion to the inner end portion continuous with the side edge portion. The vehicle pillar structure according to claim 1 or 2, which is variable.

Images