Pivotal characterization of car rollovers

Malliaris, A. C.; DeBlois, J. H.

Affiliations

Abstract

This paper addresses and traces the influence of several rollover pre-initiation, independent, variables on intermediate and final outcomes, regarding the crashing car/occupant complex system and the resulting casualties. The primary vehicles under investigation are cars. The data for the development of the desired results are extracted from the US field experience of rollover involved cars and car occupants. Six independent variables are addressed in the rollover pre-initiation stage: car travel speed, roadway speed limit, car maneuver, accident precursor, first harmful event, and the location of this event. Five intermediate outcomes are distinguished: the number of quarter turns; loss of passenger compartment integrity through doors that come open in the crash; loss of integrity through disintegrated glazing; occupant ejections, complete or partial; and intrusion of roof, roof borders, and pillars. The final outcomes addressed in the investigation are occupant fatalities, injured survivors, and overall harm. A most informative aspect of this investigation is the comparative evaluation of rollover versus nonrollover crashes. Car travel speed is found to be the source of profound differences. Car travel speed is suggested as a most informative descriptor of “rollover severity,” especially when considered in conjunction with accident precursor and car maneuver conditions that promote lateral speed development.

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Cited By (6)

Year	Entry
1995	Moffatt EA, Padmanaban J. The relationship between vehicle roof strength and occupant injury in rollover crash data. In: 39th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 16-18, 1995; Chicago, IL.245-267.
2005	Padmanaban J, Husher S. Occupant injury experience in rollover crashes: an in-depth review of NASS/CDS data. In: 49th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 12-14, 2005; Boston, MA.103-118.
2001	Monclus-Gonzalez J, Eskandarian A, Takatori O, Morimoto J. Development of detailed finite element models of child restraint systems for occupant protection. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2003	Digges KH, Eigen AM. Crash attributes that influence the severity of rollover crashes. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.
2005	Digges KH, Eigen AM. Severity measurements for rollover crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2005 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 2005; Prague, Czech Republic.121-132.
2005	Padmanaban J, Delahaye M, Hassan AM, Mackay M. The nature of serious injury in US and UK rollover crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2005 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 2005; Prague, Czech Republic.133-143.