Vehicle cross members and related methods

A vehicle cross member comprising:

• an elongated beam having:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• and
• a sidewall extending between the first and second ends to define:
• a first channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the beam and across at least longitudinally adjacent first and second sections of the beam, the first channel being open on a first side of the beam and having:
• a bottom portion;
• and
• first and second opposing side portions extending from the bottom portion and toward the first side;
• and
• a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis and across at least the second section, the second channel being open on a second side of the beam that is opposite the first side and having:
• a bottom portion;
• and
• first and second opposing side portions extending from the bottom portion of the second channel and toward the second side;
• wherein the second channel is disposed below the first channel such that:
• at least a portion of one of the first and second side portions of the first channel is defined by a segment of the sidewall;
• at least a portion of one of the first and second side portions of the second channel is defined by the segment of the sidewall;
• and
• a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extends through the opposing side portions of each of the first and second channels;
• one or more mounts, each configured to couple a component to the beam, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of:
• a steering column, an airbag housing or carrier, and an instrument cluster.

A vehicle cross member comprising:

• a composite body including:
• a plastic material;
• and
• one or more laminates, each having fibers dispersed within a matrix material;
• wherein the body defines an elongated beam comprising:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• and
• a sidewall extending between the first and second ends to define:
• a first channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the beam and across at least longitudinally adjacent first and second sections of the beam, the first channel being open on a first side of the beam;
• and
• a second channel extending along the longitudinal axis and across at least the second section, the second channel being disposed below the first channel and open on a second side of the beam that is opposite the first side;
• wherein at least one of the one or more laminates is disposed along the beam such that the at least one laminate borders a majority of an inner cross-sectional perimeter of each of the first and second channels.