Rollover Testing on an Actual Highway

• Published in: SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems 2009-01, Vol.2 (1), p.1237-1267, Article 2009-01-1544
• Main Authors: Asay, Alan F, Woolley, Ronald L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1946-3995; 1946-4002; 1946-4002
• DOI: 10.4271/2009-01-1544

Three full-size sedans were towed to highway speeds along a section of a remote rural highway. Upon release, an automated steering controller steered the vehicles through a series of maneuvers intended to result in rollover. Repeated attempts to roll each vehicle were made until rollover resulted. Non-rollover attempts produced cornering tire marks by the out-of-control vehicle. Out of numerous runs, 3 rollover and 2 non-rollover tests were selected for documentation and analysis. One additional steer-induced rollover test is presented that was conducted along a simulated road section at a closed test-track facility. All six tests presented are instrumented real-world type tests that were later reconstructed based upon the data obtained from on-board instrumentation, videotape, survey measurements, and still photographs obtained of each respective test. The test data presented within the paper includes the various phases associated with vehicle rollovers: loss-of-control, trip, and rolling phases. A more complete presentation of data for each of the six respective tests can be found in the appendix.