Dynamic Simulation in the Safety Research, Development and Type Approval of Minibuses and Coaches

The paper reviews the Cranfield Impact Centre (CIC) experience with dynamic simulation of the collapse behaviour of minibus and coach body structures in rollovers and frontal impacts and the interaction between occupants and seats in a variety of loading scenarios.

This work supported development of the:

1. a.
   ECE (UN-Geneva) and EEC (European Union) safety standards for rollover strength and safety of seats with belts;
2. b.
   Rollover safety Type Approval method, combining numerical simulation and component tests;
3. c.
   Safety structures for rollover protection and in passenger seats.

Characteristic extracts from various projects demonstrate not only the usefulness and capability of dynamic simulation, but also the difficulties associated with this rapidly developing field of safety technology.