DEVELOPMENT OF A UNITIZED SCHOOL BUS. VOLUME II. TECHNICAL REPORT

The development of new design concepts for school bus body structures and for passively restraining school bus passengers were the major objectives of this program. Passenger protection in front and rear rigid barrier impacts and in a side impact with a rigid pole - all at a 30 mph impact velocity - were the design goals. A unitized bus configuration was specified wherein the body and chassis frame are a single integrated structure in contrast to the typical school bus configuration where the body is bolted onto a chassis frame. Analyses and development tests indicated the feasibility of providing a uniform level of protection to seated occupants, ranging in size from a 6 year old child to a 50th percentile adult male in the front and rear impacts. In the side impact with a rigid pole at 30 mph, the hazard zone existing in the vicinity of the impacted area precludes uniform levels of protection for all occupants. Design layouts of 55-passenger operational school bus incorporating the unitized body structure and passive restraint systems were prepared.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Volume 1, PB-257 654 and Volume 3, PB-258 421.
• Corporate Authors:

  AMF Incorporated

  Advanced Systems Laboratory, 495 South Fairview Avenue
  Goleta, CA  United States  93017

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Adams, L
  • Kadilkar, A
  • Pauls, L
  • Rup, W
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 558 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers (Roads); Bumpers; Buses; Chassis; Crash tests; Manual safety belts; Passive restraint systems; Protection; Safety equipment; School buses; Seats; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00144003
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-802-005 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-4-00969
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 15 1981 12:00AM