Rail assembly for controlled lateral deformation

A vehicle subjectable to an external force, comprising:

• a body structure having a rail assembly, including:
• a rail inner portion having a substantially vertical inner wall;
• a rail outer portion having a substantially vertical outer wall and attached to the rail inner portion, wherein the rail inner portion and the rail outer portion together form a hollow rail;
• and
• a horizontal web portion having a central portion, a first flange, and a second flange and configured with a deformation initiator, the horizontal web portion being disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the rail inner portion and the outer wall of the rail outer portion;
• wherein the deformation initiator is configured to limit a lateral deformation of an intermediate portion of the rail assembly to a predetermined lateral deformation when the vehicle is subjected to the external force;
• and
• wherein the deformation initiator extends from the central portion of the horizontal web portion to at least one of the first and second flanges of the horizontal web portion.

A vehicle subjectable to an external force, comprising:

• a body structure, including:
• a front body hinge pillar;
• a number two bar;
• a floor panel;
• and
• a rocker rail assembly attached to the front body hinge pillar, the number two bar, and the floor panel, the rocker rail assembly including:
• a rocker rail inner having a substantially vertical inner wall;
• a rocker rail outer having a substantially vertical outer wall and attached to the rocker rail inner, wherein the rocker rail inner and the rocker rail outer together form a hollow rail having a front end;
• and
• a horizontal web having a front end and configured with a deformation initiator, disposed inside of the hollow rail, and attached to the inner wall of the rocker rail inner and the outer wall of the rocker rail outer;
• wherein the horizontal web is configured to limit a lateral deformation of an intermediate portion of the rocker rail assembly to a predetermined lateral deformation when the vehicle is subjected to the external force;
• and
• wherein the front end of the horizontal web is located proximate to the front end of the hollow rail;
• and
• wherein the rear end of the horizontal web is located proximate to the number two bar.