The vehicle body side structure is provided that comprises a front pillar, a center pillar, a rear pillar, a side sill, a roof side rail, and front and rear strengthening members. The center pillar further comprises an inner pillar member or portion coupled to the roof side rail and the side sill and an outer pillar member or portion disposed on the transversely outward side of the inner pillar member. The outer pillar member is coupled to the side sill a vertically approximate center portion of the inner pillar member. A main energy absorbing section is provided at a lower end portion of the outer pillar member. The front and rear strengthening members are coupled only to the outer pillar member of the center pillars. As a result, a load input during a side collision is dispersed and transmitted through the strengthening members and through the inner pillar member.
In an automotive vehicle body including a first annular frame (29) formed by front pillars (11, 12), a second annular frame (34) formed by center pillars (13, 14) and a front door (7) internally provided with a front door beam (51) and fitted between the front pillar and center pillar one each side of the vehicle body, the front door beam overlaps the first annular frame and second annular frame as seen from sideways, and includes a door beam main body (61) providing a channel member having an open side facing inboard and a tension wire (71) extending along an inboard side of the door beam main body. Thereby, when another vehicle hits the front door from sideways, because the front door beam overlaps the first annular frame and second annular frame as seen from sideways, the impact energy can be effectively transmitted to the vehicle body. Furthermore, because the door beam main body supports a compressive load while the tension wire supports a tensile load, deformation of the door beam is minimized.
A vehicle structural frame member incorporates an internal lightweight brace member spanning between the opposing flanges of the co-joined hat-shaped members forming the structural frame member. The internal brace is formed of thin material, such as steel, to help the frame member retain its geometric shape when placed under a load. The internal brace can be formed into a ladder-like configuration with longitudinally spaced members that span between the opposing flanges to keep the geometric shape from collapsing. A substantial improvement in load carrying capability before collapse is obtained with a small increment in additional weight in the structural frame member.
A one-piece B-pillar having a front flange and a rear flange formed on an upper portion of the B-pillar. The front and rear flanges extend forwardly and rearwardly from a trapezoidal section of the B-pillar. An inner concave portion is provided in a lower portion of the B-pillar. The one-piece B-pillar is secured to the outer and upper surfaces of a roof rail and to the outer surface of a rocker to provide side impact strength. The B-pillar is hydroformed in one-piece to provide superior strength for roof crush performance. The tubular portion of the B-pillar is partially collapsed to form a trapezoidal section in the upper portion of the B-pillar.
