A STUDY ON THE CRASHWORTHINESS AND ROLLOER OF MONOCOQUE BUS FRAME UNDER DYNAMIC IMPACT

Abstract

It is important to consider the performances of strength and safety after the accident that the deforming superstructure seriously threatens the lives of the passengers. Thus, the stiffness of the bus frame is the first thing that needs to be considered. This paper presents an finite-element analysis analysis method with which to design the monocoque bus frame for a reduction in occupant injuries from frontal crashworthiness and rollover accident while the weight of the strengthened bus is maintained at the same level. First, the crash condition of the monocoque bus frame was a frontal crashworthiness with a speed of 50 km/h. The entire front-end deformation is within the safe range, satisfying the safety conditions of direct collision. Then, rollover accident analysis was done according to the safety rules of the European standards (ECE-R66). The finite element model of the monocoque bus frame is verified against the experiment method which showed a pretty good agreement. The results showed that the survival spaces for the driver and passengers were secured against frontal crashworthiness and rollover of the monocoque bus frame.