Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of frame rails elongated along a longitudinal axis, each of the frame rails having a downward deformation zone, the frame rails bendable at the downward deformation zones from a first position to a second position beneath the first position. The vehicle includes a tire supported between the pair of frame rails at the downward deformation zones. The vehicle includes a spare tire retention member supported between the pair of frame rails forward of the downward deformation zones.

Abstract: An assembly includes an inner rail and a rocker rail outboard of the inner rail. The assembly includes a torque box having a first panel fixed to the inner rail and the rocker rail, a second panel fixed to the inner rail and the rocker rail, and a third panel fixed to the inner rail and the rocker rail.

Abstract: An assembly includes a hinge pillar having an inner member and an outer member. The assembly includes a brace between the inner member and the outer member, the brace having a side portion fixed to the outer member and a front portion fixed to the inner member.

Abstract: An assembly includes an inner rail and a rocker rail outboard of the inner rail. The assembly includes a torque box having a first panel fixed to the inner rail and the rocker rail, a second panel fixed to the inner rail and the rocker rail, and a third panel fixed to the inner rail and the rocker rail.

Abstract: An assembly includes a hinge pillar having an inner member and an outer member. The assembly includes a brace between the inner member and the outer member, the brace having a side portion fixed to the outer member and a front portion fixed to the inner member.

Abstract: A method includes simulating an impact between a simulated wheel and a simulated vehicle assembly, the simulated vehicle assembly including a simulated vehicle component that is a computer-aided-design model of a vehicle component. The method includes determining, based on the simulated impact, an impact angle between the simulated wheel and the simulated vehicle assembly. The method includes impacting an impactor with the vehicle component at the impact angle.

Abstract: A frame assembly includes a rail including a straight portion, the straight portion including a first portion, a second portion, and a deformation trigger between the first and second portions, and a bracket attached to the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: A frame assembly includes a rail including a straight portion, the straight portion including a first portion, a second portion, and a deformation trigger between the first and second portions, and a bracket attached to the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body having a first rail and an upper rail spaced from the first rail. The upper rail has a base portion and a top prong and a bottom prong each extending from the base portion. The vehicle includes a bumper connected to the first rail and to the top prong, and a subframe connected to the bottom prong.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body having a first rail and an upper rail spaced from the first rail. The upper rail has a base portion and a top prong and a bottom prong each extending from the base portion. The vehicle includes a bumper connected to the first rail and to the top prong, and a subframe connected to the bottom prong.

Abstract: A vehicle frame includes a first frame rail and a second frame rail spaced from each other. A casing is supported by the first frame rail, and elongated in a direction extending away from the second frame rail. The casing is deformable relative to the first frame rail, and houses an electronic component. During a vehicle small offset frontal impact, the casing moves from an initial position to a deflected position, deflecting some of the load of the impact away from backup structures of the vehicle. In the deflected position, the casing may also contact a front portion of a wheel, positioning the front portion of the wheel inboard the frame of the vehicle relative to a rear portion of the wheel, which may minimize the load transferred to the backup structures and/or detach the wheel from the vehicle to minimize the possibility of intrusion into the backup structures.

Abstract: A load path control mechanism is fixed to a frame rail and includes a coupling bracket, a spacer bracket and a frame crossmember. The frame rail defines an inner chamber therein. The frame crossmember is fixed to the frame rail. The coupling bracket is disposed in the inner chamber and is fixed to the frame rail, paralleling the frame crossmember. The coupling bracket has a first projected area on a plane normal to a lateral axis. The spacer bracket, disposed on an outboard side of the frame rail, has a second projected area on a plane normal to the lateral axis. The projected areas at least partially overlap. The spacer bracket has a deformation mode responsive to a first load under which the space bracket deflects against the first side of the frame rail which deflects against the coupling bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle sill reinforcement includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member. Each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member includes steps and walls disposed in alternating arrangement along an axis. The walls of the first elongate member are fixed to the walls of the second elongate member. The steps of the first elongate member and the steps of the second elongate member are aligned along the axis and define cavities therebetween. The steps and walls of the sill reinforcement resist buckling in response to both vertical and horizontal components of impact force applied to the sill reinforcement.

Abstract: A vehicle frame includes a first frame rail and a second frame rail spaced from each other. A casing is supported by the first frame rail, and elongated in a direction extending away from the second frame rail. The casing is deformable relative to the first frame rail, and houses an electronic component. During a vehicle small offset frontal impact, the casing moves from an initial position to a deflected position, deflecting some of the load of the impact away from backup structures of the vehicle. In the deflected position, the casing may also contact a front portion of a wheel, positioning the front portion of the wheel inboard the frame of the vehicle relative to a rear portion of the wheel, which may minimize the load transferred to the backup structures and/or detach the wheel from the vehicle to minimize the possibility of intrusion into the backup structures.

Abstract: A load path control mechanism is fixed to a frame rail and includes a coupling bracket, a spacer bracket and a frame crossmember. The frame rail defines an inner chamber therein. The frame crossmember is fixed to the frame rail. The coupling bracket is disposed in the inner chamber and is fixed to the frame rail, paralleling the frame crossmember. The coupling bracket has a first projected area on a plane normal to a lateral axis. The spacer bracket, disposed on an outboard side of the frame rail, has a second projected area on a plane normal to the lateral axis. The projected areas at least partially overlap. The spacer bracket has a deformation mode responsive to a first load under which the space bracket deflects against the first side of the frame rail which deflects against the coupling bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle sill reinforcement includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member. Each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member includes steps and walls disposed in alternating arrangement along an axis. The walls of the first elongate member are fixed to the walls of the second elongate member. The steps of the first elongate member and the steps of the second elongate member are aligned along the axis and define cavities therebetween. The steps and walls of the sill reinforcement resist buckling in response to both vertical and horizontal components of impact force applied to the sill reinforcement.

Abstract: A collision energy absorbing assembly for a land vehicle includes first and second frame rails and a powertrain having an engine and a transmission. The powertrain is disposed between the rails such that the powertrain is spaced apart from the rails. The vehicle also includes an energy-transfer element attached to an inner side of the first rail or powertrain to reduce a spacing between the powertrain and first rail thereby increasing a cross-car load transfer during a collision.