Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Sung-ling Twu

Zohir Molhem

Fred M Marquardt

Ferdous M Z Ghazi

Dean Matthew Perelli

Leonid Peschansky

Systems are provided for suspensions that deliver desirable wheel kinematics at prescribed conditions. A system includes a vehicle body structure with an engine cradle, and an associated wheel assembly. A suspension system links the wheel assembly with the engine cradle, and includes a link coupled with the engine cradle and coupled with the wheel assembly. A joint at the link includes a flange that has an opening, an edge, and at least one undercut defined in edge of the flange. The joint allows release of the wheel assembly from the engine cradle by designed tearing between the opening and the at least one undercut. The release is initiated only under loads above a select threshold at the joint, to provide select kinematics of the wheel assembly for specific operational cases.

Suspension system providing desired wheel kinematics at prescribed conditions

Suspension systems are provided where the lower control arm is allowed to separate from the engine cradle at prescribed conditions to deliver the proper wheel kinematics for select cases while maintaining structural integrity for all other load cases. A system includes a vehicle body structure, a wheel assembly, and a suspension system linking the wheel assembly to the engine cradle. The suspension system includes a link coupled with the engine cradle through a first joint and coupled with the wheel assembly through a second joint. The first joint is configured to release the link from the engine cradle under loads above a threshold force and above a threshold angle of the threshold force at the second joint, to provide the desired kinematics.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Sung-ling Twu