Safety Improvement for Occupants in Rollovers

            Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) now require frontal and side crash tests to demonstrate the required levels of occupant crash protection.  These standards have reduced the numbers of deaths and injuries in frontal and side crashes.  At present, there is no requirement for crash testing vehicles in rollovers.  The number injuries and fatalities in rollovers has been increasing relative to the other crash modes. Rollovers are the largest source of fatalities in SUV's. 

            The objective of this project is to analyze accident data to determine how to classify rollover crashes according to the severity of the rollover as well as the severity of  the other crash events that may occur.  The resulting research will aid in determining how to best protect occupants in rollovers.  It will also provide the basis for a benefits analysis of test methods that can be used to establish an improved rollover safety standard.  The research was initially funded by a generous gift of the Santos Family Foundation.

The initial research under this project involved rollover testing of the C/K pickup.  Click here to see a rollover test in real time.  Click here to see a slow motion video of the initial dummy motion during rollover the rollover test. 

More recently, the research has added dynamic rollover testing of recent model vehicles.  Research in computer modeling of rollovers provides support to the dynamic testing.  Progress has been reported in the following reports and presentations.  Click on the PDF icon to view the document.

JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 VW Tiguan, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report November, 2011
Roll Test 1 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 VW Tiguan, Research Sponsored by ASRI, November 10, 2011
Roll Test 2 - Dynamic Rollover Test of  2009 VW Tiguan Research Sponsored by ASRI, November 10,  2011
JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 2010 Toyota Prius, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report August, 2010
Roll Test 1 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2010 Toyota Prius, Research Sponsored by ASRI, August 11, 2010
Roll Test 2 - Dynamic Rollover Test of  2010 Toyota Prius, Research Sponsored by ASRI, August 12, 2010
Rollover Rates and Severity - Dynamic Testing Results. Presentation by Kennerly Digges at TRB Rollover Workshop,  July 23, 2010
JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report August, 2010
Roll Test 1 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Research Sponsored by ASRI, July 9, 2010
Roll Test 2 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Research Sponsored by ASRI, July 12, 2010
JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 Nissan Versa, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report May, 2010
Roll Test 1 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 Nissan Versa, Research Sponsored by ASRI, April 27, 2010
Roll Test 2 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2009 Nissan Versa, Research Sponsored by ASRI, April 28, 2010
JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 2008 Scion xB, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report March, 2010
Roll Test 1 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2008 Scion xB, Research Sponsored by ASRI, February 10, 2010
Roll Test 2 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2008 Scion xB, Research Sponsored by ASRI, February 12, 2010
Sensitivity Study of Vehicle Rollovers to Various Initial Conditions, Research for ASRI by Fadi Tahan and others, March, 2010
JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 2007 Camry Hybrid, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report December, 2009
Roll Test 1 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2007 Camry Hybrid, Research Sponsored by ASRI, October 29, 2009
Roll Test 2 - Dynamic Rollover Test of 2007 Camry Hybrid, Research Sponsored by ASRI, November 17, 2009
JRS Dynamic Rollover Test of 1999 Camry, Research Sponsored by ASRI, Report October, 2009

Investigation of Different Roof Strengthening Methods to Gain an Elastically Responding Roof in Static and Dynamic Rollover Tests, Research for GWU by Alexander Schmitt, August, 2009

Modeling Neck Compression in Rollovers, by Cristina Echemendia, GW University Report, April 2009
Far-side Sled Test MADYMO Validation, by Cristina Echemendia and Kennerly Digges, GW University Report, April 2009
Injuries in Rollovers by Crash Severity, by K. Digges and A. Eigen, Paper  ESV 07-0236, 2007
Effects of Roll Rate and Tripping Velocity on Occupant Kinematics During Rollover, Master's Thesis for GWU by Said Dahdah, 2005
Injury Risk from Objects Impacted Before and During Rollovers, by K. Digges & A, Eigen, Paper at IRCOBI, 2006
Injury Risk from Objects Impacted Before and During Rollovers by K. Digges & A, Eigen, Presentation at IRCOBI 2006
Severity Measurements for Rollover Crashes, by K. Digges & A, Eigen, Paper at IRCOBI 2005
Severity Measurements for Rollover Crashes, by K. Digges & A, Eigen,  Presentation at IRCOBI 2005
 Rollover Crash Mechanisms and Injury Outcomes for Restrained Occupants by A. Eigen, NHTSA Report DOT HS 809 994, July 2005
Hugh DeHaven: Still Relevant for Rollovers by Carl Nash, Presentation to SAE Government Industry Meeting February 5, 2009 - (Videos below)

 Video of VW Jetta and Pontiac G6 Rollover Tests on JRS

 Video of Steering Induced Rollover

 Video of Volvo XC 90 Rollover Tests on JRS

Modeling Neck Compression in Rollovers, by Cristina Echemendia, GW University Report, April 2009
Far-side Sled Test MADYMO Validation, by Cristina Echemendia and Kennerly Digges, GW University Report, April 2009
Video of Pickup Drop Test from 6 inches - 1st Drop
Video of Pickup Drop Test from 6 inches - 2nd Drop

 

Back to ASRI Home