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Calculation of delta-v from crash test data is commonly done through integration of accelerometer data. For tests that result in high yaw velocity and where accelerometers are located somewhat remote from the center of gravity, corrections must be made. This paper defines both the well known yaw velocity-distance factor and an additional factor involving the integral of yaw velocity squared, and presents methodology for data analysis.

Eight lateral dolly rollover tests were conducted on 1983 Chevrolet Malibusata nominal speed of 51.5 km/h (32 mi/h). Four of the vehicles had rollcages, and four had standard production roofs. Unrestrained outboard front GM Hybrid ill dummies with head and neck transducers were used. Numerous cameras documented the vehicle and dummy movements. Detailed vehicle kinematics data allowed quantitative analysis of the conditions for head and neck loads. For both roof structures, the dummies moved upward and outward from their seats due to rotation and acceleration of the vehicle. High head/neck loads were measured when the head contacted a part of the car experiencing a large change in velocity, often that part of the car which struck the ground. The results of this work indicate that roof strength is not an important factor in the mechanics of head/neck injuries in rollover collisions for unrestrained occupants.

The handling behavior of an automobile towing a full-size travel trailer at high speed is studied analytically. A computer simulation of the system indicates the proper range of design and load parameters for best handling quality and illustrates the effect of some hitch design parameters. Associated analysis provides supplementary insight into the factors affecting stability of automobile-trailer combinations.

Vehicle understeer is rigorously defined and discussed as it pertains to directional control of an automobile. Methods are presented for predicting understeer quality in proposed vehicle designs and for measuring understeer quality in existing vehicles. The methods make possible complete and accurate quantitative descriptions of vehicle understeer.

This paper describes the use of the GMR variable stability passenger car in a brief study of driver performance in a maneuvering task. The study was part of a pilot program for evaluation of test methods and equipment for future and more extensive human factors evaluations. Three distinct types of passenger car directional control characteristics were simulated, and each configuration was driven by each of six different drivers through a complex course. The results of the investigation are presented in terms of the average driver performance with each vehicle configuration.

The equations of lateral motion response for four wheeled vehicles are developed for external disturbance inputs. Experimental data is obtained through use of a laterally directed hydrogen peroxide rocket motor mounted on a station wagon. The use of a rocket motor provides accurate and flexible control of location and magnitude of the input disturbance. Response data taken from these tests are compared with the responses from a computer model utilizing the disturbance equations. These results are applied to illustrate the effects of wind disturbance on vehicle handling.