If you take a look at the image below you will see that the B-Pillar reinforcement is made from Dual Phase (DP) 980. Just in case you are wondering where DP 980 ranks in the strength of UHSS take a look at the chart on the Types of Steel (UHSS) post from August.
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Below is a list of 27 vehicles that are in the runnings to win a IIHS 2010 Top Safety Pick. Last year the list of potential award winners contained 94 vehicles. The reduction in 2/3 of last year’s list is thanks to heightened roof strength test standards.
The new roof collision standards push a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. A good rating means that the roof withstood four times the vehicle’s weight without crushing more than five inches.
So as firefighters, we can safely assume that if we run on a MVA that has an occupant entrapped in one of these 2010 vehicles there is some major UHSS and Boron reinforcements in the pillars and the roof.
The new roof collision standards push a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. A good rating means that the roof withstood four times the vehicle’s weight without crushing more than five inches.
Award winners
Large cars
- Buick LaCrosse
- Ford Taurus
- Lincoln MKS
- Volvo S80
Midsize cars
- Audi A3
- Chevrolet Malibu (built after October 2009)
- Chrysler Sebring sedan (with optional electronic stability control)
- Dodge Avenger (with optional electronic stability control)
- Mercedes C-Class
- Subaru Legacy
- Subaru Outback
- Volkswagen Jetta sedan
- Volkswagen Passat sedan
- Volvo C30
Small cars
- Honda Civic sedan (except Si) (with optional electronic stability control)
- Kia Soul
- Nissan Cube
- Subaru Impreza (except WRX)
- Volkswagen Golf four-door
Midsize SUVs
- Dodge Journey
- Subaru Tribeca
- Volvo XC60
- Volvo XC90
Small SUVs
- Honda Element
- Jeep Patriot (with optional side torso airbags)
- Subaru Forester
- Volkswagen Tiguan
Take a look at the image below. There is some major reinforcements in the roof in the B-Pillar area. Robotic YAG laser welders put the cab cage together with continuous seam weld joining hydro formed tubes in pillars and roof panels. The B-pillar uses Boron steel, the roof features industry’s first use of DP-780 super high-strength, dual-phase steel in the hydroformed roof front. High strength steel tubes run from the base of the A-pillar through the roof forming a roll cage.
Just in case you thought that the automotive industry was content with the current amount of UHSS and AHSS used in vehicles, that is not the case. The amount of AHSS in vehicles is expected to triple by 2020.
Here are a few good links to review:
- Automotive Steels and Future Vehicles by Ronald Krupitzer Vice President AISI’s Steel Market Development Institute
- The Challenges of Advanced High-Strength Steels at Rescue and Extrication Incidents by Ron Moore, Battalion Chief McKinney Fire Department
- Mass Efficient Architecture for Roof Strength by Shawn Morgans Ford Motor Company
Now many of you may say that there is too much engineering BS in the Roof Strength pdf file. I ask you to closing look at the images, looks light a Ford Pickup. Ford sells over a 175,000 full size pickups. So if Ford is using there pickup in this study with the steel industry group the automaker could easily implement these design in their trucks!
I have posted before about the 2010 Ford Fusion and how the vehicle incorporates cost-efficient lightweight steel for added protection and sleek design. With the 2010 Ford Fusion wining the Motor Trend Car of the Year award there will be an increase of the number of these vehicles on the road. So start doing your research now. Below are links to several different article that have been written to help firefighters and first responders with a MVA involving a 2010 Ford Fusion.
AHSS and UHSS Information on the 2010 Ford Fusion
DETROIT, Nov. 18, 2009 – The North American steel industry and AISI’s Steel Market Development Institute have a reason to celebrate, as the 2010 Ford Fusion
and Fusion hybrid, which feature a number of advanced high-strength steel
technologies, were selected as Motor Trend Car of the Year. The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.The Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid feature a number of advanced steel
technologies, including: a lightweight high-strength steel body structure for
added side and frontal impact protection; dual-phase high-strength steel rails;
side intrusion beams; and tailor-welded B-pillars between the front and rear
door frames, which help prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment.“Lightweight advanced and ultra high-strength steels provide automakers with a cost-effective solution to meet new market demands for safety, fuel economy and emissions standards,” said Ron Krupitzer, vice president of automotive applications for AISI’s Steel Market Development Institute. “Ford’s use of new high-strength steels in the Fusion has resulted in a vehicle that is stylish, safe and efficient.”
The 2010 Honda Accord is full of safety devices like airbags and occupant sensors. What is not common knowledge is the amount of UHSS and Boron used. Honda has stated:
The highly rigid unit body helps the Accord Sedan achieve its exceptional
structural rigidity and crash protection. A high percentage of high-tensile
steel helps it to better absorb impact forces from the front, sides and rear, as
well as the roof, in the event of a rollover.
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure is below.
