Abstract: A vehicle underbody includes a system of connected unitized underbody components including a front quadrant system having a left front unitized underbody component and a right front unitized underbody component, a center system, and a rear quadrant system having a left rear unitized underbody component and a right rear unitized underbody component. A first rail element is loosely connected to the left front unitized underbody component and the left rear unitized underbody component, and a second rail element is loosely connected to the right front unitized underbody component and the right rear unitized underbody component.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a system of connected unitized body structure components, with at least one of the system of connected unitized body structure components including a hollow portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle body including a rocker insert is provided. The apparatus includes a vehicle body including a plurality of metallic structure members and a lower portion operable to provide support to a floor surface within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and a rocker insert mounted to an in-vehicle side portion of the lower portion. The rocker insert includes an elongated bar portion including a hollow center portion including internal reinforcing web features. The rocker insert is oriented with respect to the vehicle body such that a longitudinal axis of the elongated bar portion of the rocker insert is parallel to an in-vehicle forward direction of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A structural load path assembly includes an upper rail configured to be coupled to a suspension system, a lower rail spaced apart from the upper rail along a vertical direction, a first outer bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, a second outer bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, a first inner bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein the first inner bracket is spaced apart from the first outer bracket along a horizontal direction, and the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction, a second inner bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower, and a box section sized to receive a shock absorber.

Abstract: A structural load path assembly includes an upper rail configured to be coupled to a suspension system, a lower rail spaced apart from the upper rail along a vertical direction, a first outer bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, a second outer bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, a first inner bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower rail, wherein the first inner bracket is spaced apart from the first outer bracket along a horizontal direction, and the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction, a second inner bracket interconnecting the upper rail and the lower, and a box section sized to receive a shock absorber.

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle body including a rocker insert is provided. The apparatus includes a vehicle body including a plurality of metallic structure members and a lower portion operable to provide support to a floor surface within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and a rocker insert mounted to an in-vehicle side portion of the lower portion. The rocker insert includes an elongated bar portion including a hollow center portion including internal reinforcing web features. The rocker insert is oriented with respect to the vehicle body such that a longitudinal axis of the elongated bar portion of the rocker insert is parallel to an in-vehicle forward direction of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A body structure for an automotive vehicle includes an enclosure for a power source, an upper shear structure assembly and a lower shear structure assembly. The enclosure includes a front cross-member, a rear cross-member, a left rocker and a right rocker. The upper and lower shear structure assemblies are disposed across the top and bottom of the enclosure, respectively, and are fastened to respective top and bottom surfaces of the cross-members and rockers. The upper and lower shear structure assemblies may include respective front and rear generally trapezoidal sections configured for attachment to respective front and rear box structures. Each of the shear structure assemblies is effective to dissipate in-plane a portion of an external load imposed upon the enclosure.

Abstract: A barrier assembly for an energy storage system includes a panel and an energy storage pack. The panel includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposing the outer surface. The energy storage pack is spaced from the panel relative to the inner surface of the panel. The barrier assembly further includes an intermediate structure disposed between the inner surface of the panel and the energy storage pack. The intermediate structure is configured to absorb energy when a load is applied to the outer surface of the panel and configured to redistribute the load along a plurality of load paths through the intermediate structure as the load is applied to the panel. A vehicle includes the barrier assembly discussed above. The vehicle includes a support structure and the barrier assembly is coupled to the support structure. The inner surface of the panel faces toward the support structure.

Abstract: A structural arrangement for a vehicle includes a body structure defining a longitudinal vehicle body axis and a lateral vehicle axis orthogonal to the longitudinal vehicle body axis. The body structure includes a lattice shear structure having a first structural member extending laterally from one side to an opposite side of the vehicle and a second structural member parallel to and longitudinally spaced apart from the first structural member, an upper shear panel extending longitudinally and laterally across the vehicle and joined to the lattice shear structure, and a seat attachment structure having a first end and a second end opposite the second end. The seat attachment structure is oriented longitudinally and is joined to both of the first and second structural members.

Abstract: A barrier assembly for an energy storage system includes a panel and an energy storage pack. The panel includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposing the outer surface. The energy storage pack is spaced from the panel relative to the inner surface of the panel. The barrier assembly further includes an intermediate structure disposed between the inner surface of the panel and the energy storage pack. The intermediate structure is configured to absorb energy when a load is applied to the outer surface of the panel and configured to redistribute the load along a plurality of load paths through the intermediate structure as the load is applied to the panel. A vehicle includes the barrier assembly discussed above. The vehicle includes a support structure and the barrier assembly is coupled to the support structure. The inner surface of the panel faces toward the support structure.

Abstract: A body structure for an automotive vehicle includes an enclosure for a power source, an upper shear structure assembly and a lower shear structure assembly. The enclosure includes a front cross-member, a rear cross-member, a left rocker and a right rocker. The upper and lower shear structure assemblies are disposed across the top and bottom of the enclosure, respectively, and are fastened to respective top and bottom surfaces of the cross-members and rockers. The upper and lower shear structure assemblies may include respective front and rear generally trapezoidal sections configured for attachment to respective front and rear box structures. Each of the shear structure assemblies is effective to dissipate in-plane a portion of an external load imposed upon the enclosure.

Abstract: A structural arrangement for a vehicle includes a body structure defining a longitudinal vehicle body axis and a lateral vehicle axis orthogonal to the longitudinal vehicle body axis. The body structure includes a lattice shear structure having a first structural member extending laterally from one side to an opposite side of the vehicle and a second structural member parallel to and longitudinally spaced apart from the first structural member, an upper shear panel extending longitudinally and laterally across the vehicle and joined to the lattice shear structure, and a seat attachment structure having a first end and a second end opposite the second end. The seat attachment structure is oriented longitudinally and is joined to both of the first and second structural members.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame system having a frame rail that extends along and is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis. A body is mounted to the frame system, and includes a rocker panel that extends along the longitudinal axis, and is disposed outboard of the first frame rail. A side load transfer device is positioned between the frame rail and the rocker panel. The side load transfer device is attached to one of the frame rail or the body. The side load transfer device is operable to transfer an applied load from the rocker panel to the frame rail. The applied load being applied to the rocker panel in an inboard direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame system having a frame rail that extends along and is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis. A body is mounted to the frame system, and includes a rocker panel that extends along the longitudinal axis, and is disposed outboard of the first frame rail. A side load transfer device is positioned between the frame rail and the rocker panel. The side load transfer device is attached to one of the frame rail or the body. The side load transfer device is operable to transfer an applied load from the rocker panel to the frame rail. The applied load being applied to the rocker panel in an inboard direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A body-mounted tire blocker assembly can absorb and/or manage energy when a vehicle body assembly is subjected to an external force. This vehicle body assembly may include a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. The vehicle body further includes a rocker panel defining a first panel end and a second panel end opposite the first panel end. The tire blocker assembly is coupled to the rocker panel and includes a first blocker body and a second blocker body coupled to the first blocker body. The first blocker body is farther from the first panel end than the second blocker body in order to guide a wheel away from the passenger compartment when an external force is applied to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A body-mounted tire blocker assembly can absorb and/or manage energy when a vehicle body assembly is subjected to an external force. This vehicle body assembly may include a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. The vehicle body further includes a rocker panel defining a first panel end and a second panel end opposite the first panel end. The tire blocker assembly is coupled to the rocker panel and includes a first blocker body and a second blocker body coupled to the first blocker body. The first blocker body is farther from the first panel end than the second blocker body in order to guide a wheel away from the passenger compartment when an external force is applied to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure and a frame rail assembly. The frame rail assembly extends forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. The frame rail assembly includes a frame rail defining a rail axis and a reinforcing member. The frame rail defines a longitudinally extending seam and the frame rail extends forward from the bulkhead along the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail further defines an end portion. The reinforcing member is secured to the frame rail at the end portion to increase a stiffness of the frame rail at the end portion. The reinforcing member is configured to limit a stress at the seam, transverse to the rail axis, resulting from a load applied to the end portion of the frame rail and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure and a frame rail assembly. The frame rail assembly extends forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. The frame rail assembly includes a frame rail defining a rail axis and a reinforcing member. The frame rail defines a longitudinally extending seam and the frame rail extends forward from the bulkhead along the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail further defines an end portion. The reinforcing member is secured to the frame rail at the end portion to increase a stiffness of the frame rail at the end portion. The reinforcing member is configured to limit a stress at the seam, transverse to the rail axis, resulting from a load applied to the end portion of the frame rail and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline.