What is the function of a bumper?
2 Answers
The function of a bumper is to absorb and mitigate external impact forces, protecting the front and rear parts of the vehicle body, serving as a safety device. Bumpers have the capability to reduce injuries to occupants during high-speed collisions and are increasingly designed for pedestrian protection. In addition to maintaining their original protective functions, the front and rear bumpers of cars also aim for harmony and unity with the vehicle's styling and pursue lightweight design. The front and rear bumpers of cars are made of plastic, commonly referred to as plastic bumpers. Typically, a car's plastic bumper consists of three parts: the outer panel, cushioning material, and crossbeam. The outer panel and cushioning material are made of plastic, while the crossbeam is formed by stamping cold-rolled steel sheets into a U-shaped channel; the outer panel and cushioning material are attached to the crossbeam.
Don't you hate those minor scratches and dents when driving? That's exactly what bumpers are designed for. The front and rear bumpers on my old car have been replaced twice—once from backing into a tree and another time from getting sideswiped while parallel parking. Essentially, bumpers serve as the outermost cushioning zone of a vehicle with three main functions: First, during low-speed collisions, the plastic components deform to absorb energy, minimizing damage to the vehicle's structure. Second, they protect fragile parts like headlights—my taillight survived a rear-end collision thanks to the bumper taking most of the impact. Third, modern bumpers incorporate energy-absorbing foam for pedestrian protection, providing at least some cushioning if someone gets hit. But don't expect them to withstand high-speed impacts; after all, they're just a few millimeters of plastic shell.
