A vehicle body floor structure is provided with a floor, a side sill extendedly arranged at a side of the floor and in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body to have a closed section, a pair of floor cross members extendedly arranged on the floor in a widthwise direction of the vehicle body, so as to face with each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a first reinforcing member, provided between the pair of floor cross members in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and within the closed section of the side sill, to exhibit property allowing a dimensional condition thereof to be maintained against a side collision load.
An automotive vehicle comprises a frame having a pair of side rails interconnected by a plurality of cross members. A rocker panel substantially parallel to and spaced from each side rail creates a gap. An energy transfer member seats within the gap for transferring energy between the rocker panel and the side rail in a side impact event. The energy transfer member is sufficiently stronger than the side rail such that impact energy deforms the rocker panel and travels through the energy transfer member to deform the side rail prior to any deformation of the energy transfer member, thereby maintaining the gap to reduce side structure intrusion into an occupant compartment. An accelerometer mounted within the vehicle inboard of the side rails senses vehicle frame acceleration, and activates a vehicle airbag system as necessary.
