ROLLOVER-VAULTING ALGORITHM FOR SIMULATING VEHICLE-BARRIER COLLISION BEHAVIOR

Because of the relatively high center of gravity of most heavy vehicles, the possibility of rollover vaulting is always present when a heavy vehicle collides with a median or bridge barrier. There have been various investigations made on vehicle-barrier response using simulation models that are either too simplified or extremely costly to run. The algorithm developed in this paper incorporated a comprehensive, three-dimensional model of the vehicle- barrier interaction and is very inexpensive to operate. In this algorithm, the vehicle-barrier interaction is assumed to take place in three phases: (a) the initial impulsive impact with the barrier; (b) a continuous, nonimpulsive translational and angular motion during redirection; and (c) a second impulsive impact when the rear of the vehicle swings around and strikes the barrier. The algorithm enables the user to monitor all the important vehicle dynamic parameters, including the angular orientation of the vehicle during redirection and the magnitude of the initial impulsive impact forces between vehicle and barrier. The program is applied to investigate the vaulting potential of passenger and heavy vehicles with various barriers at speeds and impact angles covering the expect range. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/566/566-001.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ROLLOVER-VAULTING+ALGORITHM+FOR+SIMULATING+VEHICLE-BARRIER+COLLISION+BEHAVIOR&author=J.+Labra&author=J.+Rudd&author=J.+Ravenscroft&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024765
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Labra, John J
  • Rudd, James
  • Ravenscroft, J
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-12
• Monograph Title: Vehicle barrier systems
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 566
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Bridges; Crash investigation; Crashes; Heavy vehicles; Highway safety; Impacts; Mathematical models; Median barriers; Monitoring; Rollover crashes; Simulation; Studies; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Parameters
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139244
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024765
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM