Investigating heavy vehicle rollover crashes and the influence of road design by use of vehicle simulations: a case study in Norway
A heavy goods vehicle (HGV) overturned at an entry ramp to the E6 freeway in Norway. The 24 m long vehicle combination was a heavy truck & drawbar trailer, legally loaded with timber logs into 57 ton gross vehicle weight. The crash investigation showed that the HGV was stable and that the driver had adjusted the speed in order to merge with the E6 traffic. Simulations were made of the crashed vehicle´s dynamics when driving a 3D model of the entry ramp. The results showed that the entry ramp had a very unfortunate geometry. The crash came as result of a failure in the interaction between the driver and the heavy goods vehicle's performance in relation to the condition and function of the road. The investigation found that the Norwegian Public Road Administration (NPRA) requirements of the design and of construction of entry ramps do not take adequate account of the road's function, i.e. that large heavy vehicles will use the entry ramp. The Accident Investigation Board Norway recommended that the NPRA revise its requirements for design and execution of entry ramps. This case is an example of the large potential for benefits from simulations of vehicle dynamics in crash investigations. A future application may also be validation of safety for road designs. Traditionally road design codes are dealing with one factor at a time. Simulations make it possible to verify safe road designs in 3D, such as crossfall/curvature in combination with downhill grade. Furthermore, vehicle simulations can provide accurate input to projects that identify hazardous existing curves and make decisions on enhanced speed & attention management.
- Record URL:
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Authors:
- Granlund, J
- Di Cristoforo, R
- Mellum, R
- Raddum, M H
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 2016-11
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: 10p
- Monograph Title: Future pathways: International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology (HVTT14), 15-18 November 2016, Rotorua
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Access roads; Case studies; Crash investigation; Geometric design; Heavy vehicles; Highways; Layout; Motor vehicle dynamics; Overturning; Stability analysis; Vehicle design
- Geographic Terms: Norway
- ATRI Terms: Access road; Case study; Crash investigation; Geometric design; Heavy vehicle; Overturning; Vehicle stability
- ITRD Terms: 8531: Case study; 1236: Lorry; 1637: Overturning (veh); 5930: Stability
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01641730
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: ARRB
- Files: ITRD, ATRI
- Created Date: Jul 25 2017 9:54AM