Motor Coach/Bus Crashworthiness Systems: Occupant Retention

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Batzer ◽  
David Beltran ◽  
G. Grant Herndon ◽  
Chandrashekhar K. Thorbole ◽  
Mariusz Ziejewski
Keyword(s):  
Laminated Glass ◽  
Restraint System ◽  
Destructive Testing ◽  
Body Forces ◽  
Physical Testing ◽  
Feasible Solutions ◽  
Energy Absorbing ◽  
Objective Being

Destructive testing of the complete motor coach/bus restraint system to include seatbelts, side glazing, and greenhouse structure was performed with the objective being to determine the overall rollover crashworthiness in this accident mode. During motor coach/bus rollovers, the roof and pillar structures may deform due to friction and body forces initiated by ground and roadway contact. Body deformation, as well as interaction of the glass with rocks and other debris on the ground and roadway, may lead to catastrophic glazing failure, opening a portal for occupant partial or complete ejection. Despite the relatively high occupant capacity of motor coaches/buses, many commercial designs provide seatbelt restraints only for the purpose of securing wheelchairs and the driver, providing no seatbelt restraints for occupants in passenger positions. Rollover testing was performed on a modified commuter motor coach/bus to determine the effectiveness of the seatbelts as primary restraints, and also on several energy absorbing window designs to determine their efficacy as secondary restraints. The results showed that properly fixated laminated glass and other designs were capable of fully retaining both belted and unbelted occupants during the staged collision. This testing showed that structural roof members and occupant retention glazing systems are feasible solutions for the purpose of occupant retention. The physical testing was complemented by simulations of this accident showing that the loading received by the occupants is not injurious.

An Energy-Absorbing Restraint System

1971 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Mclay ◽  
F. J. Blackstone ◽  
P. K. Das
Keyword(s):  
Restraint System ◽  
Energy Absorbing

Design and Analysis of an Energy Absorbing Restraint System for Light Aircraft Crash-Impact

1974 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Hundal ◽  
R. W. McLay ◽  
L. Folsom
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Steel Wire ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
General Aviation ◽  
Restraint System ◽  
Occupant Restraint System ◽  
Crash Protection ◽  
Occupant Injuries ◽  
Energy Absorbing ◽  
Aircraft Crash

The application of a miniaturized energy absorbing mechanism to a light airplane occupant restraint system is presented. The mechanism absorbs energy through the continuous plastic deformation of a steel wire, closely approximating a constant force energy absorber. The design philosophy and the installation details for the aircraft are presented. A mathematical model is used for determining the occupant response during aircraft crash. The model considers plane motion of the aircraft and the human body, the latter being approximated by five rigid body segments. Occupant displacements and curves for accelerations and restraint forces are presented for a typical survivable light aircraft crash. The experimental results and the mathematical model response suggest that incorporation of the energy absorbing mechanism would produce a significant decrease in occupant injuries and fatalities. A parametric study of the occupant/restraint system is presented. Recommendations are made on steps towards improved crash protection and survival in general aviation.

Heavy Truck Roll Cage Effectiveness

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Batzer ◽  
Bruce E. Enz ◽  
G. Grant Herndon ◽  
Chandrashekhar K. Thorbole ◽  
Robert Hooker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Structural Deformation ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Significant Loading ◽  
Class Viii ◽  
Heavy Truck ◽  
Energy Absorbing ◽  
Objective Being ◽  
Survival Space

National accident statistics consistently show that the profession of Class VIII truck drivers is dangerous, and that their fatality rate is very high. One significant reason for this is the lack of rollover crashworthiness of many commercial truck designs. Analysis of numerous trucks that have been through rollovers shows that cab designs are typically designed to be durable, rather than strong, energy absorbing, and able to maintain shape under significant loading. In this current work, both destructive rollover testing and finite element analysis were performed with the objective being the determination of the effectiveness of conventional structural cab reinforcement for diminishing tractor cabin deformation. Intrusion into the tractor’s survival space can lead to mechanical injury (crush) and can also facilitate partial, or full, occupant ejection. The results of this testing show that the amount of structural deformation of the tractor cabin can be significantly reduced, and the amount of occupant survival space preserved using straightforward and cost effective techniques.

Elastic Energy Absorption of Origami-Based Corrugations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean S. Tolman ◽  
Spencer P. Magleby ◽  
Larry L. Howell
Keyword(s):  
Energy Absorption ◽  
Elastic Energy ◽  
Virtual Work ◽  
Compliant Mechanism ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Work Analysis ◽  
Physical Testing ◽  
Energy Absorbing ◽  
Mechanism Theory

The mechanical properties of origami tessellations may provide innovative new designs for energy absorbing applications. The elastic energy absorbing properties of a particular tesselation, the Miura-ori, is investigated. Analytical models for the kinematics and force-deflection of a unit cell based on two different modes of elastic energy absorption are derived. The force-deflection model is developed based on the application of compliant mechanism theory and virtual work analysis. The models are verified through comparison with published results for similar models, analysis using commercial kinematics software and comparison to physical testing. Physical prototypes are used to determine values stiffness terms. The analytical models are used to explore the effects of the key geometrical parameters of the tessellation. This work lays a foundation for the use of origami-based corrugations in elastic energy absorption applications.

Automotive Laminated Side Glazing Rollover Performance When Subjected to Roadway Abrasion and Occupant Loading

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Phillips ◽  
Stephen A. Batzer
Keyword(s):  
Laminated Glass ◽  
Tempered Glass ◽  
Destructive Testing ◽  
Exterior Surface ◽  
Passenger Vehicles ◽  
Side Door ◽  
Pull Out ◽  
Retention Characteristics ◽  
Occupant Loading ◽  
Substantial Distance

Abstract Destructive testing of commercial automotive movable laminated side glass was conducted to document the occupant retention characteristics of this glazing system in quarter-roll crashes with a prolonged slide distance. That is, in some overturns a vehicle will slide to a halt on its side with a window adjacent both to an occupant’s position and to the moving roadway. It is known by field experience that this situation can result in injurious ejection of the occupant through the adjacent window if the window is constructed of tempered glass and the window has fractured. When tempered glass fractures, the window disintegrates and fully opens the portal. With the laminated side glazing that is used on some passenger vehicles, fracture of the inboard and outboard glass plies will not necessarily cause the “sandwiched” PVB interlayer to be compromised. This PVB interlayer allows the glass plies to remain in place and resist the sliding interaction. This diminishes the ejection hazard that is associated with tempered side glass. The three drag tests described within this technical paper used a single model of sport utility vehicle driver’s position door and factory installed laminated side door glass. The testing replicated the interaction of the exterior surface of the laminated glass against the moving roadway while the glazing was pre-fractured and the interior glass ply was subjected to significant simulated occupant loading. These conditions ensured contact of the exterior glass ply against the moving abrasive roadway. The detached and slightly modified driver’s door was pulled at near highway speed over a substantial distance against abrasive asphalt, simulating a rollover accident with the side of the vehicle sliding to halt. The results of these tests show that the exterior surface of the glazing, primarily consisting of the hard ceramic SiO2, is sufficiently wear resistant and durable to wear but not rupture or pull out of the peripheral channel. This testing shows that laminated glass is the superior glazing material for this accident mode from an occupant containment perspective.

Development of a System for Detecting Weld Failures

2015 ◽  
pp. 69-85
Author(s):  
Jairo Alejandro Rodríguez ◽  
Edwin F. Forero
Keyword(s):  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Ultrasound Transducer ◽  
Non Destructive Testing ◽  
Destructive Testing ◽  
Design Quality ◽  
Time Of Flight Diffraction ◽  
Feasible Solutions ◽  
Metallic Parts ◽  
Non Destructive

Considering the possibility that from the area of electronics can be provided feasible solutions in the field of non-destructive testing, this chapter present a prototype and methodology that allows energize an ultrasound transducer. This system is used to evaluate for detecting weld failures at the junctions of metallic parts. Subsequently, in order to validate the design quality of that source, a computer system that allows control of a card developed ultrasound. Finally, it is implemented the ultrasonic imaging by time of flight diffraction technique, in order to obtain an objective comparison methodology to both systems.

Non destructive testing of works of art by terahertz analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 21001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Bodnar ◽  
Jean-Jacques Metayer ◽  
Kamel Mouhoubi ◽  
Vincent Detalle
Keyword(s):  
Non Destructive Testing ◽  
Destructive Testing ◽  
Works Of Art ◽  
Non Destructive
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