Title: Investigating the rollover propensity of a 15 seater mini bus

Authors: A. Chawla, S. Mukherjee, A. Nayak, D. Mohan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India. ' Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India

Abstract: In the present paper a full vehicle model of the Rural Transport Vehicle (RTV) is developed in MADYMO. The steering, tyre and suspension are modelled using standard modules available in the package. A speed controller was also designed using the package to maintain a constant speed of the RTV in simulations. Validation of the model was against experimental accelerations measured over bumps. The validated model is used to predict rollover characteristics using Slowly Increasing Steer (SIS), J-turn and Road Edge Recovery (RER) manoeuvres. These manoeuvres were conducted for three different loading conditions viz. RTV without passengers, RTV with unrestrained passengers and RTV with restrained passengers.

Keywords: rural transport vehicles; RTV; minibus rollover; slowly increasing steer; SIS; J-turn and road edge recovery; RER; steering modelling, tyre modelling; suspension modelling; vehicle safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2007.012582

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2007 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.206 - 220

Published online: 25 Feb 2007 *

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