Vehicle Rollover Testing, Methodologies in Recreating Rollover Collisions 2000-01-1641
Testing techniques for creating rollovers have been a subject of much study and discussion, although previous work has concentrated on creating a repeatable laboratory test for evaluating and comparing vehicle designs. The two testing methodologies presented here address creating rollover tests that closely mimic a specific accident scenario, and are useful in accident reconstruction and evaluation of vehicle performance in specific situations.
In order to be able to recreate accidents on off-road terrain, a test fixture called the Roller Coaster Dolly (RCD) was developed. With the RCD a vehicle can be released at speed onto flat or sloping terrain with any desired initial roll, pitch and yaw angle. This can be used to create rollover collisions from the trip stage on, including scenarios such as furrow trip on an inclined road edge.
In order to be able to study the entire crash sequence associated with on-road maneuver-induced rollovers, a test methodology utilizing a crashworthy steering controller was developed and evaluated. With this, high-speed on-road maneuver induced rollovers can be recreated with precise input control, and without the limitations necessary for the safety of human drivers, such as the need for outriggers.
Both of these test methodologies are outlined in this paper and examples of tests utilizing each are described.
Also in:
Proceedings of the 2000 Automotive Dynamics and Stability Conference-P-354, Occupant and Vehicle Responses in Rollovers-PT-101, SAE 2000 Transactions Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems-V109-6
Related Topics:
Accident reconstruction
Rollover accidents
Vehicle performance
Crashworthiness
Pitch
Roll
Yaw
Crashes
Vehicle drivers
Terrain
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