Assessment of the Dynamic Behavior of a Single Person ATV in Presence of a Passenger: Outcome on the Rider and Passenger Crash Impact Kinematics Using Computational Model

Abstract

An ATV (All-terrain vehicle) is a gasoline powered, fast moving off road vehicle often used for farming and industrial activities as well as recreational activities. The popularity of this type of vehicle has increased over the last decade with more than 10 million in use today. Most ATVs are designed for only single rider even though the seat of the ATV may appear big enough to carry a passenger. The presence of an additional person on a single person ATV greatly affects its dynamic handling characteristics. This change increases the risk of a crash and subsequent injuries to both riders. ATV crashes involving climbing and descending on steep hills are common. Lateral rollover crashes are often the result of riding an ATV at a high speed on uneven terrain. The presence of passenger on a single person ATV during these conditions changes the rider impact kinematics and resulting injury outcome, as the ATV behaves differently in the presence of an additional person. The computational model of a single person, adult-sized ATV, as developed previously for the study of child injury prevention, was used for this study. The multi-body computational model of this ATV was developed using biodynamic code MADYMO. This computational model was validated against the laboratory test for its dynamic and suspension characteristics. The tilt table test and the drop test were employed to compare the computational model result. This computer model was used to simulate the crash mechanism involving climbing and descending steep hills with two people on the ATV. This model was also used to simulate the lateral rollover of ATV with two people. The rider and the additional passenger on this single rider ATV were modeled using a 50th percentile male and a 5th percentile female. The two rider simulation was compared with single rider simulation for similar terrain and ATV speed to gain insight about the influence of this additional passenger weight on the crash kinematics of the ATV and the rider. These simulations will also be used in the future to generate more visually dramatic videos for educational intervention for ATV safety programs and other injury prevention activities.