Crash Analysis of RTV

In last few years many cases of rollover of RTV has been reported. This necessitated finding out rollover characteristics of RTV either by experimentation or by theoretical model. Therefore in the present project work full vehicle model of the RTV developed and validated on MADYMO (Mathematical Dynamic Model). RTV structure was modeled by using rigid body segments like ellipsoids, cylinder and planes. Steering, tyre and suspension was modeled by some special features. A speed controller was also designed to maintain constant speed of RTV in simulation.

For validation an experiment of RTV passing over a bump was conducted and results of the experiment was compared with simulation run for the similar conditions on MADYMO with RTV theoretical model. After validation of RTV model to predict rollover characteristics rollover maneuvers were simulated with developed model. Rollover maneuvers consists of Slowly Increasing Steer, J-Turn, and Road Edge Recovery test. All these tests were conducted for three different loading conditions i.e. RTV without passengers, RTV with unrestrained passengers, and RTV with restrained passengers
 

Fig 1: The Hybrid III dummy inserted in to the RTV         Fig 2: RTV model with driver and passengers (S.Mukherjee et al.,2005)

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Key Observations:

Model of RTV has been developed in MADYMO and the heave mode validated by measuring the acceleration of the RTV passing over a bump. The model is used for predicting rollover characteristics of RTV in dynamic maneuvers. The comparisons of results show that rollover stability of the RTV is predicted to be inferior to conventional vehicles for which there is measured data. Considering that the RTV is capable of running speeds of the order of 60 km/h, it would seem that the RTV is prone to rolling over in urban roads that sustain these speeds.

1. Technological Evaluation of RTVs

1. Chawla A, Mukherjee S, Mohan D and Nayak A, Investigating the rollover propensity of a 15 seater mini bus, The International Journal of  Vehicle Safety, Vol 2, Nos ½, 2007.

2. Mukherjee S, Chawla A, Nayak A and Mohan D, Rollover crashworthiness of a rural transport vehicle using Madymo, Intenational Journal of Crashworthiness, 2006, Vol 11 No 5, pp 495-503

3. Mukherjee S, Chawla A, Nayak A and Mohan D, Rollover crash analysis of the RTV using Madymo, Proceeding of ESV2005,held in Washington DC , June 2005, Paper No 05-0186-O

4. Mukherjee S, Chawla A, Nayak A and Mohan D, Rollover crash analysis of the RTV using Madymo, accepted for SIAT’05, to be held in Pune, in January 2005.

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