Apron upper member of vehicle
An apron upper member of a vehicle extends from a front pillar to a front side of the vehicle, and includes: a rear half portion having a sheet metal structure and having a vehicle rear end connected to the front pillar; and a front half portion formed of a casting product, the front half portion being connected to the rear half portion, extending to the front side of the vehicle, and having a vehicle front end connected to a crash box. The front half portion has a strength lowering portion immediately ahead of a connecting portion connected to the rear half portion. This suppresses significant approach of an occupant to a vehicle body at the time of collision.
1. An apron upper member of a vehicle extending from a front pillar to a front side of the vehicle, comprising:
a rear half portion having a sheet metal structure and having a vehicle rear end connected to the front pillar; and
a front half portion formed of a casting product, the front half portion being connected to the rear half portion, extending to the front side of the vehicle, and having a vehicle front end connected to a crash box which undergoes compressive plastic deformation in a vehicle front-rear direction at the time of front collision of the vehicle, wherein
the front half portion has a strength lowering portion immediately ahead of a connecting portion connected to the rear half portion.
2. The apron upper member of a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the rear half portion has a closed cross section structure,
the front half portion has the connecting portion, the strength lowering portion, and a general portion other than the connecting portion and the strength lowering portion,
each of the general portion and the connecting portion is a groove-shaped cross section and includes a web, a flange erected from both ends of the web, and a reinforcing rib disposed on a surface of the web, and
in the strength lowering portion, the reinforcing rib is not disposed on a surface of the web, and the web or the flange is curved in a direction in which an outer size of the groove-shaped cross section becomes smaller.
3. The apron upper member of a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
decelerating acceleration at which an occupant restraint device is activated is generated before the crash box starts to undergo compressive plastic deformation.
4. The apron upper member of a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
decelerating acceleration at which an occupant restraint device is activated is generated before the crash box starts to undergo compressive plastic deformation.