Citation

Grzebieta RH, Friedman D, Bozzini S, Shipp C, Hussein J. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2009; 13.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Mining and petroleum companies are demanding vehicle roof strengthening systems such as internal and external roll cages and roll bars to protect their employees in the event of a rollover crash. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate how roof crush intrusion into the occupant compartment can be prevented using an innovative externally retrofitted HALO roof strengthening system that was developed based on an understanding of how vehicles roll and roofs crush during rollover. Rollover crash test results of a US manufactured production SUV with a seat belted Hybrid III crash test dummy (ATD) subjected to two rollover crashes are presented. Injury measures from the ATD, crush and crush velocity from various vehicle locations in the strengthened vehicle during testing were noted and compared to the measurements from the production vehicle and then discussed. Results show that when both roof crush and vehicle's centre of gravity fall is prevented using the HALO, the ATD injury measures and road impact loads are significantly reduced.