Search Results

Sudden tire deflation, or blow-out, is sometimes cited as the cause of a crash. Safety researchers have previously attempted to study the loss of vehicle control resulting from a blow-out with some success using computer simulation. However, the simplified models used in these studies did little to expose the true transient nature of the handling problem created by a blown tire. New developments in vehicle simulation technology have made possible the detailed analysis of transient vehicle behavior during and after a blow-out. This paper presents the results of an experimental blow-out study with a comparison to computer simulations. In the experiments, a vehicle was driven under steady state conditions and a blow-out was induced at the right rear tire. Various driver steering and braking inputs were attempted, and the vehicle response was recorded. These events were then simulated using EDVSM. A comparison between experimental and simulated results is presented.

SIMON is a new vehicle dynamic simulation model. Applications for SIMON include single- and multi-unit vehicle handling simulation in severe limit maneuvers (including rollovers) and 3-dimensional environments. Applications also include vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-barrier collisions. This paper provides the technical background for the SIMON engineering model. The 3-dimensional equations of motion used by the model are presented and explained in detail. The calculations for suspension, tire, collision, aerodynamic and inter-vehicle connection forces and moments are also developed. The integration of features available in the HVE Simulation Environment, such as DyMESH, the Driver Model, Brake Designer and Steer Degree of Freedom, is also explained. Finally, assumptions and limitations of the model are presented.

Most vehicles built today are fitted with anti-lock braking systems (ABS). Accurate simulation modeling of these vehicles during braking as well as combined braking and steering maneuvers thus requires the effects of the ABS to be included. Simplified, lump parameter models are not adequate for detailed, 3-dimensional vehicle simulations that include wheel spin dynamics. This is especially true for simulating complex crash avoidance maneuvers. This paper describes a new ABS model included in the HVE simulation environment. It is a general purpose model and is available for use by any HVE-compatible vehicle simulation model. The basic operational and control characteristics for a typical ABS system are first reviewed. Then, the specific ABS model and its options as implemented in the HVE simulation environment and employed by the SIMON vehicle simulation model are described. To validate the model, pressure cycles produced by the model are compared with stated engineering requirements.

This paper describes a general purpose computer graphics interface for performing detailed two- and three-dimensional studies involving the dynamic response of humans and vehicles during the pre-crash, crash and post-crash phases of a motor vehicle accident. Specifications are provided for human, vehicle and environment models which can be constructed and analyzed using the interface. The requirements of analysis methods which may be incorporated into the interface are examined, and several examples are provided. Finally, the paper illustrates how the interface is used for creating high-level animations to view the resulting human and/or vehicle motion on various output devices such as computer displays, printers, plotters and video tape recorders.

A substantial programming effort is required to develop a human or vehicle dynamics simulator. More than half of this effort is spent designing and programming the user interface (the means by which the user supplies program input and views program output). This paper describes a pre-programmed, 3-dimensional (3-D), input/output window-type interface which may be used by developers of human and vehicle dynamics programs. By using this interface, the task of input/output programming is reduced by approximately 50 percent, while simultaneously providing a more robust interface. This paper provides a conceptual overview of the interface, as well as specific details for writing human and vehicle dynamics programs which are compatible with the interface. Structures are provided for the human, vehicle and environment models. Structures are also provided for events, interface variables, and the output data stream.

Developers of human dynamics simulation software inherently use a mathematical/physical model to represent the human. This paper describes a pre-programmed, object-oriented human model for use in human dynamics simulations. This human model is included as part of an integrated simulation environment, called HVE (Human-Vehicle-Environment), described in previous research. The current paper first provides a general overview of the HVE user and development environments, and then provides detailed specifications for the HVE Human Model. These specifications include definitions for model parameters (supported human types and human properties, such as dimensions, inertias, joints and injury tolerances). The paper also provides detailed specifications for the HVE time-dependent human output group parameters (kinematics, joints, contacts, belts and airbags).

Developers of vehicle dynamics simulation software inherently use a mathematical/physical model to represent the vehicle. This paper describes a pre-programmed, object-oriented vehicle model for use in vehicle dynamics simulations. This vehicle model is included as part of an integrated simulation environment, called HVE (Human-Vehicle-Environment), described in previous research [1,2] *. The current paper first provides a general overview of the HVE user and development environments, and then provides detailed specifications for the HVE Vehicle Model. These specifications include definitions for model parameters (supported vehicle types; vehicle properties, such as dimensions, inertias, suspensions; tire properties, such as dimensions and inertias, mu vs slip, cornering and camber stiffnesses; driver control systems, such as engine, transmission/differential, brakes and steering; restraint systems, such as belts and airbags).

A personal computer program for drawing accident sites is described. The program design is reviewed and hardware requirements are defined. Standard features are explained and features unique to the needs of the accident reconstructionist, such as photogrammetry and a built-in accident site template, are presented. Its use with other computer accident reconstruction programs is illustrated. It is seen that the scaled accident site diagram provides an important element to the reconstruction, both as an analytical tool as well as a presentation tool.

A major component in reconstructing motor vehicle accidents is the use of accurate data about the vehicles involved in the accident. Whether the reconstruction is done manually or with the aid of computers, the accuracy of the reconstruction is directly proportional to the accuracy of the vehicle data. Unfortunately, the vehicle data is not always available from the actual vehicles involved in the accident. In these instances, the reconstructionist must obtain data that best approximates the original vehicles. In lieu of finding, measuring, and weighing identical vehicles, the data is available through publications, trade associations, and other common sources. This paper describes these sources and how the information can be obtained.

The EDSMAC personal computer program for use by accident investigators is described. The input data requirements are reviewed. The general calculation procedures are discussed and the specific procedures for computing delta-V are explained in detail. The method, based on equalizing the force between the vehicles at all times during the impact phase, is seen to be simple in concept but extremely complex in practice. The numerical and graphical output and warning messages are reviewed. Applications of the program are illustrated. The major benefit of EDSMAC is the ability, using graphics, to provide an analytical method illustrating how an accident may, or may not, have occurred.

Several computer programs are used by accident investigators to reconstruct motor vehicle accidents. These programs are seen as valuable tools by most investigators. However, it is also clear the programs are sometimes misused. This paper addresses five different types of computer programs used by accident investigators and discusses their proper and improper use. Most frequently, misuse is due to the lack of a thorough understanding of how the programs work. A series of recommendations is presented to help investigators properly use the programs.

This paper presents the case study results of several actual motor vehicle accidents which occurred in the western U.S. Each case was analyzed to determine the characteristics of impact to the vehicle and the resulting occupant injuries. The most frequent injury was facial laceration from impacting the windshield. The main benefit of restraint systems lies in their ability to reduce or prevent contact between the occupant and the interior during the crash.

A new three-dimensional collision simulation algorithm, called DyMESH (Dynamic MEchanical SHell) was recently introduced.[1]* This paper presents a validation of DyMESH for vehicle vs. barrier collisions. The derivation of the three-dimensional force vs. crush relationship was described previously.[1] Here the application of three-dimensional force vs. crush curves using the outlined methodology is shown to be effective. Nonlinear force versus crush relationships are introduced for use in DyMESH. Included are numerous DyMESH collision simulations of several types of vehicles (e.g., light and heavy passenger car and sport utility) compared directly with experimental collision test results from various types of barrier tests (e.g., full frontal, angled frontal, and offset frontal). The focus here is not on the vehicle’s change in velocity, but on the acceleration vs. time history.

Motor vehicle safety researchers have used the Phase 4 vehicle simulation model for several years. Because of its popularity and ability to simulate the 3-dimensional dynamics of commercial vehicles (large trucks and truck tractors towing up to three trailers), the Phase 4 model was ported to the HVE simulation platform. The resulting model is called EDVDS (Engineering Dynamics Vehicle Dynamics Simulator). This paper describes the procedures used in porting Phase 4 to the HVE platform. As a result of several assumptions made during the development of Phase 4, the port to EDVDS required substantial changes. The most significant modeling difference is the removal of the small angle assumption, allowing researchers to study complete vehicle rollover. Also significant is EDVDS’s use of HVE’s Get Surface Info () function, allowing the vehicles’ tires to travel over any 3-D terrain of arbitrary complexity. These and other changes in the model are described in the paper.

The accuracy of the SMAC computer program was evaluated in terms of its ability to predict the correct paths and damage profiles for vehicles involved in a crash. A comparison of the results from SMAC and EDSMAC were presented along with measured results from twelve staged collisions. Statistical analysis of those results revealed the average path error was 25 to 29 percent and the average damage profile error was 109 to 287 percent. A procedure was presented for improving the match between simulated and measured paths. After using this procedure, the average path error was reduced to -2 to 7 percent and the average damage profile error was 54 to 186 percent. CDC predictions were very good. Damage profile errors, which did not reduce the program's overall effectiveness, were the result of the way the program computes inter-vehicle forces, leading to a recommendation that the algorithm be reformulated to include an initial force coefficient.

SIMON is a new 3-dimensional vehicle dynamic simulation model. The capabilities of the model include non-linear handling maneuvers and collision simulation for one or more vehicles. As a new model, SIMON must be validated by comparison against actual handling and collision experiments. This paper provided that comparison. Included in the validation were lane-change maneuvers, alternate ramp traversals, limit maneuvers with combined braking and steering, vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests and articulated vehicle handling tests. Comparison against other models were included. No metric was provided for handling test comparisons. However, statistical analysis of the collision test results revealed the average path range error was 6.2 to 14.8 percent. The average heading error was -4.7 to 0.7 percent. Delta-V error was -1.6 to 7.5 percent. VEHICLE SIMULATION has many uses in the vehicle design and safety industries.

The accuracy of the CRASH computer program was evaluated in terms of its ability to estimate impact speed. A comparison of the results from CRASH2, CRASH3 and EDCRASH were presented along with measured results from twelve staged collisions. Statistical analysis of these results revealed the impact speeds estimated by these CRASH programs were within −6 to +7 percent of the combined impact speeds at a 95 percent level of confidence. Using EDCRASH's extended features to optimize the input data improved the range to within −3 to +3 percent of combined impact speeds. An example was used to illustrate the use of the confidence intervals to estimate the expected range of impact speed for a given reconstruction. The results for oblique collisions were found to be significantly more accurate than the results for collinear collisions.

Motor vehicle accident researchers have used the CRASH computer program for some time. Over the years, the code was upgraded until it reached its present and popular form, CRASH3, which runs on a mainframe computer or minicomputer with a sizeable memory capacity. A new version of the program, EDCRASH, has been developed which runs on personal computers using 128K of memory. This paper describes and compares this program with its mainframe counterpart. The program performed the same function as CRASH3, but was designed as a screen-oriented program utilizing the environment of the personal computer. Its design also allowed for file saving, graphics, routing of output, and interfacing with other accident reconstruction programs. For most accident types, the results for both programs were identical. However, for some types the results were different.

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.