Vehicle Linear and Rotational Acceleration, Velocity and Displacement during Staged Rollover Collisions

Abstract

Four full scale vehicle rollover tests, about the roll axis (X-axis), were staged using a sled attached to a large truck. Each vehicle was fitted with a nineaccelerometer array that approximated the center of gravity and two single axis accelerometers attached to the roof adjacent to the A-pillar/roof junction. The acceleration data was retrieved for three tests; however, the data recorder malfunctioned on the remaining test. Data was collected at 1000 hertz and processed to determine the linear and rotational acceleration with respect to each of the three vehicle coordinate axes. Rollover video and scene data were also collected to correlate vehicle rollover motion with the accelerometer data.

The Influence of Vehicle-to-Ground Impact Conditions on Rollover Dynamics and Severity

“…No one has undertaken such a study to date, though Keifer [14] made the interesting suggestion that in the sixteen Malibu tests [1,19], the average deceleration rate of the vehicles was inversely related to the number of rolls, with the highest deceleration rates occurring with the fewest number of rolls. conclusion stated: "Severe roof-to-ground impacts are associated with either significant increases or significant decreases in roll velocity."…”