Intercity bus rollover simulation

Abstract

Bus accidents involving rollover are of such violence that is not usually seen in other kinds of accidents. In order to provide buses with a minimal rollover-resistant superstructure, the Regulation No. 66 of Geneve was issued. Calculations made by means of the finite element method, as well as a subroutine application that has been created for this purpose, are presented in this paper. These calculations have been made for an intercity bus structure that is actually working in real life. This technique has been checked by means of the realisation of the test explained in the above-mentioned Geneve regulation, with a module of the superstructure of the bus, and the subsequent numerical simulation. A high degree of theoretical and experimental correlation is obtained, which confirms its validity. Once the method was assessed, a complete vehicle rollover test simulation was carried out, with and without the application of an energy absorber on each of its upper lateral edges, which is able to absorb 30% of the energy released in the impact. The results obtained in the complete rollover simulation prove the efficacy of the use of the energy absorber, and it is inferred that the structure of the bus is able to pass the required regulations.