Abstract: A vehicle roof structure assembly includes a mounting bracket having a first aperture disposed therethrough. The vehicle roof structure assembly further includes a roof bow having a longitudinal body portion defining an inner channel. The longitudinal body portion includes a bottom wall having a second aperture axially aligned with the first aperture. The vehicle roof structure assembly further includes an insert block disposed within the inner channel of the roof bow. The insert block defines a third aperture disposed through a thickness of the insert block. The third aperture is axially aligned with the first aperture and the second aperture. The vehicle roof structure assembly further includes a fastener disposed through the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture to rigidly secure the roof bow to the mounting bracket, and to rigidly secure the insert block to the roof bow.

Abstract: A vehicle rocker assembly is provided. The vehicle rocker assembly may include an outer panel, a side sill, and an insert. The side sill may define at least two cavities with the outer panel. The insert may be disposed in the cavities. The insert may include a longitudinally extending U-shaped carrier and a plurality of reinforcement members attached to the U-shape carrier. The plurality of reinforcement members may be spaced apart from a bottom of the U-shaped carrier by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A strengthening member for a motor vehicle and a vehicle including a strengthening member are provided. The strengthening member can have a cross-section that has twenty-four corners and includes sides and corners creating sixteen internal angles and eight external angles. The vehicle may include a strengthening member that has twenty-four corners and includes sides and corners creating sixteen internal angles and eight external angles.

Abstract: A cellular structure may include a plurality of cells. Each cell of the plurality of cells may have a twelve-cornered cross section. The twelve-cornered cross-section may include two sides each having a first cross-sectional length, and ten sides each having a second cross-sectional length that differs from the first cross-sectional length.

Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating internal angles and external angles. Each internal angle ranges from about 100° to about 110°, and each external angle ranges from about 105° to about 130°.

Abstract: A strengthening member for a motor vehicle and a vehicle including a strengthening member are provided. The strengthening member can have twenty-eight sides arranged to create twenty internal angles and eight external angles.

Abstract: A cellular structure may include a plurality of cells each cell of the plurality of cells having a fourteen-cornered cross section. The fourteen-cornered cross section may include fourteen sides and fourteen corners. Each cell may include a plurality of longitudinal walls extending between a top and a bottom of the cell, the longitudinal walls intersecting to create corners of the cell.

Abstract: A strengthening member for a vehicle, a vehicle including a strengthening member, and a method of making a strengthening member for a vehicle is provided. The strengthening member can have a twelve-cornered cross section that includes sides and corners. The sides can include eight straight sides and four curved sides. A length of each straight side can be substantially the same, a radius of a curvature of each curved side can be substantially the same, and a ratio of the straight side length to the curvature radius may range from about 0.9 to about 1.6. In a motor vehicle, length of each straight side of the cross section of the strengthening member can range from about 10 mm to about 200 mm and the radius of the curvature of each curved side of the cross section of the strengthening member can range from about 3 mm to about 400 mm.

Abstract: A motor vehicle assembly that includes a strengthening member having a twelve-cornered cross section along at least a portion of the strengthening member, and an automotive component having a four-cornered cross section along at least a portion of the automotive component. The cross section of one of the strengthening member and the automotive component transitions between twelve corners and four corners to facilitate a connection between the strengthening member and the automotive component.

Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating eight internal angles and four external angles. Each internal angle and each external angle is greater than 90°. At least a portion of the strengthening member tapers along its length.

Abstract: A cellular structure may include a plurality of cells each having a twelve-cornered cross section. The twelve-cornered cross section may include twelve sides and twelve corners creating eight internal angles and four external angles. Each cell may include a plurality of longitudinal walls extending between a top and a bottom of the cell, the longitudinal walls intersecting to create corners of the cell. A structural component may include at least one wall surrounding a component interior space with a cellular structure having at least two cells being positioned within the interior space. A sandwich structure may include first and second substantially planar structures, and a cellular structure with at least two cells positioned between the first and second substantially planar structures.

Abstract: A strengthening member for a vehicle, a vehicle including a strengthening member, and a method of making a strengthening member for a vehicle is provided. The strengthening member can have a twelve-cornered cross section that includes sides and corners. The sides can include eight straight sides and four curved sides. A length of each straight side can be substantially the same, a radius of a curvature of each curved side can be substantially the same, and a ratio of the straight side length to the curvature radius may range from about 0.9 to about 1.6. In a motor vehicle, length of each straight side of the cross section of the strengthening member can range from about 10 mm to about 200 mm and the radius of the curvature of each curved side of the cross section of the strengthening member can range from about 3 mm to about 400 mm.

Abstract: A strengthening member for a motor vehicle and a vehicle including a strengthening member are provided. The strengthening member can have a cross-section that has twenty-four corners and includes sides and corners creating sixteen internal angles and eight external angles. The vehicle may include a strengthening member that has twenty-four corners and includes sides and corners creating sixteen internal angles and eight external angles.

Abstract: A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A crush can to an automotive vehicle has a twelve-cornered cross section comprising sides and corners creating internal angles and external angles. A geometry of the cross section varies between a front section and a rear section of the crush can. The geometry of the cross section is optimized using a plurality of control parameters including a lateral width, a vertical width, a taper ratio, a front scaling factor, and a rear scaling factor.

Abstract: Several different cross sections of beam having more than four sides are disclosed that may form a central portion of a beam having end portions that have four sides. The end portions of the beams may be received by frame rails. The central portion of the beam between the frame rails may be formed with more than four sides. The additional sides may be recessed beads or protruding ribs. Beams having arcuate recesses or arcuate ribs may be provided on the central portion of the beam. The end portions of the beams may extend outboard of the frame rails. The ribs or beads on the central portion of the beam may provide equivalent performance to four-sided beams having considerably thicker walls. Weight reduction is achieved because the central portion is made of a thinner material while retaining strength by forming beads or ribs in the central portion.

Abstract: A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a twelve-cornered strengthening member comprises: modeling a vehicle assembly including a strengthening member having a twelve-cornered cross section; parameterizing a geometry of the strengthening member with a plurality of control parameters; defining a design of experiment using the plurality of control parameters; modeling a vehicle using the vehicle assembly; simulating a frontal impact event with the vehicle; generating a response surface based on the frontal impact event; and determining a set of optimized control parameters for the strengthening member based on the response surface.

Abstract: A strengthening member for a motor vehicle, the strengthening member has a cross section that comprises sixteen corners and includes sides and corners creating eight internal angles and eight external angles. Each internal angle ranges between about 90° and about 145° and each external angle ranges between about 95° and about 175°. One or more tunable parameters of a cross section can vary along a longitudinal axis of the strengthening member.