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Technical Paper

Modular door system for side impact safety of motor vehicles

2001-06-04
2001-06-0167
Side impact collision is one of the toughest safety challenges facing the Auto Industry today. Over thirteen thousand deaths, due to side impact, occurred during 1998 in the United States alone. The main difficulty in designing for side impact collisions is the limited crumple zone between the impacting vehicle and the impacted occupant. This paper presents a proprietary side impact protective door system within the space between the outer skin of a car door and the occupant, which will be as efficient as those already standard in frontal impact. The main objective for introducing the side impact structural system is to maximize energy absorption and minimize injury to the occupant. The developed structural side impact door system acts as a Primary Structure, to be assembled as a truly modular entity. This primary structure is also packaging modular in the sense that it acts as a carrier for the door latch, window regulator and hinges.
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