Rollover Potential of Vehicles on Embankments, Sideslopes and Other Roadside Features

摘要

The objective of the research program was to study the interaction of vehicles with various roadside features to determine critical roadside-feature design criteria based on the potential for inducing vehicle rollover. The HVOSM (Highway-Vehicle-Object Simulation Model) computer program was used to determine the dynamic responses of representative small and large cars traversing various sideslope, fill-embankment, and ditch configurations. Both tracking and nontracking departures from the roadway were simulated. Prior to the simulation study, full-scale tests with an instrumented Volkswagen Rabbit automobile were performed to verify the HVOSM, which had been modified to incorporate several revisions and extensions developed by McHenry Consultants, Inc. (MCI) to improve the application of HVOSM to rollover situations.