Finite element modeling of bus rollover

Abstract

There are many reports on an accident involving bus rollover that includes fatal crash cases. Thus, the implementation of Regulation 66 on the new design of bus is a must or requirement for every bus/coach builder prior to it being mass produced. The preferred method to produce this test is by having a simulation on the bus superstructure having a rollover following Annex 5 of the Regulation 66. This is due to the fact that running the real test is very expensive and it means sacrificing a new bus for the test. However, there are many factors need to be addressed in the simulation model to mimic accurately the real test conditions, for instance, the total mass and location of the center of gravity. Therefore, this paper deals with the methodology to perform a finite element simulation of a bus having a rollover accident in accordance to Annex 5, Regulation 66. As a result, the deformation for the critical beam has been recorded and it appears to have an optimum deformation of 92 mm and does not intrude into the passenger survival area.