Title: Influence of vehicle and roadway factors on the dynamics of tripped rollover

Authors: A.G. Nalecz

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA

Abstract: The time-domain sensitivity analysis of the vehicle tripped rollover model is conducted utilising sensitivity methods developed by the University of Missouri-Columbia. The eight-degree-of-freedom tripped rollover model simulates the motion of a light vehicle which skids laterally on pavement and then impacts with a kerb. Based on energy considerations, the rollover prevention energy reserve (RPER) of the vehicle is derived and used as an indication of vehicle rollover stability. The results reveal that the minimum value of RPER approaches zero at the threshold of rollover and, if the minimum falls below zero, then vehicle rollover will occur. The sensitivity of the RPER to vehicle and roadway parameter changes is investigated using percentage sensitivity functions and various sets of initial conditions. The sensitivity results show that vehicle geometry and wheel-suspension deformation parameters are by far the most influential characteristics in tripped rollover, followed by the inertia properties of the vehicle.

Keywords: vehicle rollover; vehicle dynamics; vehicle design; vehicle modelling; digital simulation; tripped rollover; vehicle geometry; wheel-suspension deformation; inertia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1989.061543

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1989 Vol.10 No.3, pp.321 - 346

Published online: 26 May 2014 *

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