Search Results

Vehicle crashes often involve rollover. A vehicle rollover is a complex, 3-dimensional event that is quite difficult to model successfully. As a result, crash investigators often make simplifying assumptions that compromise the quality of the information learned from the analysis. Advances in vehicle simulation modeling have greatly reduced the amount of work required to perform rollover simulations. Rollover simulation holds promise as a tool to learn more about crashes involving rollover. This paper describes how the EDVSM simulation model calculates 3-dimensional forces and moments on the sprung mass (i.e., body exterior) and how these forces and moments are integrated into the equations of motion. The paper also provides some examples of the use of rollover simulation. Finally, the paper addresses the practical and theoretical limitations of rollover simulation as a tool for routine reconstruction of on-road and off-road crashes. VEHICLE ROLLOVER is a significant safety problem.