Rollover crash tests

Improvements of car safety focused first on frontal, then on side protection during the 90's. The ongoing next step is rollover protection. Existing hardware like seat belts with pretensioners and side airbags are able to protect vehicle occupants in rollover crashes as well. In the future some enhanced protection equipment will supplement these protection systems. For the integration of rollover protection into a vehicle safety system, the trigger philosophy is a key point. Full-scale rollover crash tests give basic information about how sensors and algorithms trigger the relevant protection devices. Several test procedures are established and in use. The FMVSS-208 rollover procedure is supplemented by some other tests like corkscrew, embankment, curb trip and sandpit rollover. The article gives an overview of rollover tests conducted by DEKRA by request of OEMs and suppliers. Purposes, advantages and disadvantages of the tests are being discussed. Additional real-world accident example and statistics are included. Information about rollover protection hardware and trigger strategies will be presented.