Automotive vehicle body structure demonstrating a controlled reaction load

Abstract

In an automotive vehicle body structure, including a longitudinal member having a first portion and a second portion connected in series to provide a controlled reaction force at the time of a vehicle crash, the second portion is adapted to undergo a buckling or collapsing deformation whereby the second portion demonstrating a substantially higher deformation initiating load than a plastic deformation load; and the first portion is adapted to collapse at a deformation initiating load which is substantially lower than the deformation initiating load of the second portion, but substantially higher than the plastic deformation load of the second portion. Thus, the vehicle body demonstrates a high reaction load during an early phase of a vehicle crash, and a low reaction load during a final phase of the crash so that peak acceleration of the vehicle occupant who is restrained by a seat belt involving a certain amount of resiliency can be minimized.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.