Until recently, crash tests to study real world rollover accidents have used either snubbed dollies or guided ramps. Neither method accurately represents what occurs during a curb trip rollover accident. This paper discusses a series of rollover tests conducted by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc. (FaAA), in which the test vehicles are slid sideways, released from tow, and tripped by a curb, as could occur in a real accident. Another vehicle was launched from a FMVSS 208 dolly for comparison. The test vehicles contained unrestrained front seat anthropomorphic dummies.
The tests were documented with real time and high speed photography. Vehicle kinematics was found by analysis of the high speed film. The vehicles tested rePresenat range of vehicle geometries from passenger cars to utility vehicles. The vehicle kinematics results include presentation of position, velocity, and energy profiles. The results are compared with those from the dolly rollover test at similar speeds with a similar vehicle.