OPTIMIZATION OF PASSENGER PROTECTION THROUGH BODY STRUCTURE
The safety concept of modern vehicle bodies is based on the principle of a safety passenger cell combined with crumple zones at the front and rear. The passenger cell refers to the area where the vehicle occupants are located. In the event of an accident, the risk of severe injuries should be reduced. The stability of the passenger cell is crucial in this regard.
Components made from highly durable materials are used. For example, A-pillars, B-pillars, rocker reinforcements, and cross members are often made from steel grades that must be hot-formed. The strength of these components is about 30% higher than that of cold-formable materials. In the event of an accident, energy is dissipated along predefined load paths and absorbed by computer-calculated deformation zones. The crumple zones mitigate the impact force on the vehicle occupants through their deformation. Each component is specifically designed for the different load cases.
Together with our customers, we develop components that are designed to deform in a targeted manner, such as a hot-formed longitudinal beam with a soft zone or a B-pillar with soft welding flanges. Using TemperBox® technology, we can produce ultra-high-strength components with partially soft areas. Individually designed templates cover the soft areas during the dwell time of the blanks in the TemperBox®. Cooling starts at these points already in the oven. After removal, the blank exhibits a temperature profile that is crucial for the formation of the soft areas. Studies have shown that the energy absorption of a weld spot on a soft component flange is up to 16% higher than on a fully hardened component flange. The energy absorption between the weld spots is up to 45% higher on a soft component flange than on a fully hardened flange.
Through the tailored design and manufacture of safety-relevant components, GEDIA makes a significant contribution to passive safety and the protection of occupants.
- Burkhard Vogt, Chief Technical Officer