INFLUENCES OF PARAMETERS AT VEHICLE ROLLOVER. IN: OCCUPANT AND VEHICLE RESPONSES IN ROLLOVERS

This chapter on the influences of parameters at vehicle rollover is from a comprehensive textbook on occupant and vehicle responses in rollovers. The authors use numerical simulation to evaluate the influence of vehicle and driving situation parameters, including critical sliding velocity, lane change, embankment, steering angle, ramp test (corkscrew), spring characteristic, curb trip (frontal and lateral), damper characteristics, tires, static rollover, obstacle geometries, and road condition. Both sensors and an algorithm for the deployment decision are necessary for the restraint systems to provide effective occupant protection. All the different cases of rollover situations were divided into 6 test configurations for this simulation research. The computer programs ADAMS and MADYMO were used for the rollover simulation. The authors caution that in real world rollover events with variations in the rollover parameters (i.e., vehicle speed, angle, etc.), the algorithm has to be robust to cover all requirements. However, the authors conclude that their investigations demonstrate the importance and capability of simulation in the automotive safety development process for actuators, vehicle behavior in an accident, sensor development, and algorithm development for electronic control units.