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The offset crash performance of a vehicle is getting important in reducing occupant injuries in a high-speed frontal collision on real road. To enhance the performance, we have to keep the passenger compartment space and distribute a half side load to a whole vehicle body structure. In this point of view, a cradle type front wheel carrier system can be very effective. But it poses a little difficulty in using various engine and transmission combinations. But a short wheel carrier system provides a flexible engine room package even though it has a conceptual weakness to offset crash protection. The wheel carrier connecting bar supporting between a short wheel carrier and a radiator supporting cross member is suggested. Two offset crash test modes (Euro NCAP, IIHS) are simulated for developing the wheel carrier connecting bar and modifying the vehicle body structure.

This paper presents an analytic method to estimate the proper space and stiffness of the vehicle's pillar trim to meet FMVSS 201 head injury criteria. A practical guideline curve, which is used in determining the adequate space and stiffness of pillar trim, is derived assuming haversine curve for the head impact pulse. Rib structure of pillar trim, which has a required stiffness, is designed using further simplification that models the BIW and the trim as equivalent springs. The required stiffness of the trim was achieved by adding a rib structure to it, and the shape of the rib structure was obtained using finite element analysis. Finite element analysis and experiment were conducted to validate the design of the trim, and the results were very close to the required stiffness.