Abstract: Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges. The corrugated designs provide support structures that are impact resistant.

Abstract: Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges. The corrugated designs provide support structures that are impact resistant.

Abstract: Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges and define top and side walls. A plurality of strategically thickened areas is on at least one of the top wall and side walls.

Abstract: A fender bracket includes a composite structure having a first flange to operatively connect to a fender, a second flange to operatively connect to a vehicle body structure, and a web connecting the first flange and the second flange. At least one actuator is positioned in at least a portion of the web. The at least one actuator is selected from a piezoelectric actuator, an active material actuator, and a pyrotechnic actuator. The at least one actuator is to cause a fracture or buckling of the web in response to an activation signal.

Abstract: Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges. The corrugated designs provide support structures that are impact resistant.

Abstract: Provided is a load-carrying or non-load carrying structural component for a vehicle having improved impact resistance, such as a gas tank protection shield, an underbody shield, a structural panel, an interior floor, a floor pan, a roof, an exterior surface, a storage area, a glove box, a console box, a trunk, a trunk floor, a truck bed, and combinations thereof. The component has a support structure with ridges, each spaced apart from one another at predetermined intervals, to form a corrugated surface capable of load-carrying. The ridges are longitudinally extending, raised ridges and define top and side walls. A plurality of strategically thickened areas is on at least one of the top wall and side walls.

Abstract: A fender bracket includes a composite structure having a first flange to operatively connect to a fender, a second flange to operatively connect to a vehicle body structure, and a web connecting the first flange and the second flange. At least one actuator is positioned in at least a portion of the web. The at least one actuator is selected from a piezoelectric actuator, an active material actuator, and a pyrotechnic actuator. The at least one actuator is to cause a fracture or buckling of the web in response to an activation signal.

Abstract: A system for controlling displacement of a vulnerable component in connection with an impact event at the system. The system includes a frame structure, the vulnerable component, and a composite crush member (a) connected to the frame structure and the vulnerable component, forming a first close connection between the composite crush member and the vulnerable component and a second close connection between the composite crush member and the frame structure, (b) comprises primarily a polymer composite and is configured, and (c) is arranged in the system to fail in a predetermined manner in response to the impact event. The system also includes a retention feature configured and connected, directly or indirectly, to the vulnerable component and to the frame structure to, in operation of the system, maintain at least one of the first close connection and the second close connection during and following the composite crush member the impact event.

Abstract: A system for controlling displacement of a vulnerable component in connection with an impact event at the system. The system includes a frame structure, the vulnerable component, and a composite crush member (a) connected to the frame structure and the vulnerable component, forming a first close connection between the composite crush member and the vulnerable component and a second close connection between the composite crush member and the frame structure, (b) comprises primarily a polymer composite and is configured, and (c) is arranged in the system to fail in a predetermined manner in response to the impact event. The system also includes a retention feature configured and connected, directly or indirectly, to the vulnerable component and to the frame structure to, in operation of the system, maintain at least one of the first close connection and the second close connection during and following the composite crush member the impact event.

Abstract: A blank for a vehicle door includes components arranged in the form of a blank for a front door or a rear door, each component including an edge that is adjacent to an edge of another one of the components, and welds produced by a laser, connecting the components along weld lines at the adjacent edges, each weld line of the blank for a front door being collinear with a corresponding weld line of the blank for a rear door.

Abstract: A structural inner, such as a vehicular door inner, formed from an engineered non-linearly welded blank comprising blank sections of differing thickness, a method of reducing the mass of the blank and redistributing the stresses experienced thereby during a drawing process, and a modified three-piece draw die having a control split device adapted for stamping the blank and localizing, minimizing and redirecting a blank failure to a predetermined location, such as the speaker hole of the door, during the process.

Abstract: A blank for a vehicle door includes components arranged in the form of a blank for a front door or a rear door, each component including an edge that is adjacent to an edge of another one of the components, and welds produced by a laser, connecting the components along weld lines at the adjacent edges, each weld line of the blank for a front door being collinear with a corresponding weld line of the blank for a rear door.