Summary of Rollover Crash Tests

摘要

Over a period of several years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has sponsored a total of twenty-four full-scale rollover crash tests (contract No. DTNH22-87-X-07477) to investigate vehicle and occupant dynamics during rollover crashes. A variety of pickup trucks, vans and automobiles were tested with a fully instrumented dummy seated in either the driver's or passenger's front seat. For some tests, the dummy was unrestrained and for others the dummy was restrained by the test vehicle's regular belt restraint system. For most of the tests, a specially designed NHTSA Rollover Test Device (RTD) was used to impart to the test vehicle both a linear velocity and a rolling motion about the vehicle's longitudinal axis. In five of the tests the rolling motion was initiated by vehicle impact with a guardrail or curb. Data for all these tests were collected from electrical sensors mounted on the vehicle and the dummy, and from high-speed cameras mounted both inside the vehicle and on the ground. The testing procedures are described along with the modifications to the procedures to improve control and consistency of the rollover. A summary of the general test results is presented on the vehicle and occupant motions, and the vehicle damage. Finally the lessons learned about this type of testing are presented, along with recommendations for future testing.