Technical Paper
Development of Vehicle-Terrain Impact Model for Vehicle Dynamics Simulation
1993-03-01
930833
Computer simulations are frequently used to investigate vehicle motion in various maneuvers. Although a wide range of maneuvers and types of vehicle motion can presently be simulated by computer, most current vehicle dynamics simulations do not model vehicle behavior once a roadway or roadside barrier is encountered by a vehicle or once vehicle rollover occurs. If the forces generated through such vehicle body and terrain interactions can be accurately modelled, then computer simulation capabilities can be extended to include post-barrier-impact and post-rollover vehicle motion. This paper describes the development of a vehicle-terrain impact model. The terrain is modelled to represent a roadway, either level or sloped, as well as roadside hazards such as curbs, ditches, and guard rails.