THE EFFECT OF BULLBARS IN IMPACTS BETWEEN FORWARD CONTROL VANS AND PEDESTRIANS

This paper reports a study, whose primary aim was to determine if a bullbar was responsible for causing fatal injuries, sustained during an actual collision between a pedestrian and a forward-control van fitted with the bullbar. The study also investigated whether the main effect of the increased injury levels was due to the bullbar's high stiffness or the change in geometry of the vehicle caused by the bullbar. It estimated the sensitivity of the pedestrian response to changes in the stiffness of the bullbar, bumper bar, and front panels of the van. For the theoretical analysis, a simulation was conducted, using the MADYMO simulation software in which the can was represented by a single moving mass, while the pedestrian was represented by a side impact dummy database. The simulation was restricted to two dimensions, due to time constraints. The bullbar caused a massive increase in the severity of the injuries, especially to the head and pelvis; its impact was sufficient to cause death. Its high stiffness and its geometry aggravated the injury risk to pedestrians. Even a very soft bullbar is more dangerous than a standard vehicle.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

    Department of Mechancial and Production Engineering, 124 Latorbe Street
    Melbourne, Victoria 3000,   Australia 
  • Authors:
    • FOUNTAIN, M A
    • TOMAS, J A
  • Publication Date: 1993

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00725400
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Sep 26 1996 12:00AM