Vault-Induced Pitchover Crash Testing of a Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV)

VVehicle pitchover crashes can result in very severe accelerations and forces. Literature and test data available on pitchover crashes is sparse. This paper presents the results of a full-scale pitchover/rollover crash test using an instrumented vehicle in a controlled and documented off-road environment. The test vehicle was driven to the launch point by an off-board operator using remote steering and throttle controls. The test vehicle then experienced an airborne phase during which forward pitching occurred, followed by a front-to-ground impact which induced additional pitchover motion. Then, following the initial front and rear impacts, the vehicle transitioned from a pitchover to rollover motion before coming to rest. The resulting vehicle motion, vehicle damage markings, and ground markings were documented with various slow motion and real time camera views. The test vehicle was instrumented with accelerometers, rotation rate sensors, and other sensors, the results of which provide useful correlation with previously published test data. PC-Crash version 15.0.0.4a was used to analyze the pitchover test, and comparisons are derived between the real-world test and the motion calculated in the computer simulation. The PC-Crash program predicted launch speed to within 6% of the actual crash test. The results are useful for analysis and reconstruction of similar pitchover crashes