Computer Simulation of Truck Cab Tests to Find Ways to Meet the Requirements of Un Regulation 29

Background: Ensuring the required characteristics of passive safety of trucks is an urgent task. To solve this problem, it is necessary to use computer simulation methods. Aims: To find ways to ensure the passive safety of trucks by choose the appropriate cabin design. Materials and methods: During the study, the method of virtual simulation of truck cabin tests was used in accordance with the requirements of UN Regulation 29. Results: A simulation model of a truck cabin has been developed, which allows performing computer simulation of tests according to UN Regulation 29. The main requirement of UN Regulation 29 is to maintain in the cabin sufficient space after its testing to accommodate in it the driver's dummy. As part of the study, the properties of the material (steel) used for the manufacture of prototype cabins of the truck under development were determined, and the tested specimens were obtained by dissecting the prototype of cabin, that is, the obtained results take into account the technological history of the material. The obtained data on the properties of the materials were used in the development of the simulation model of the cabin. The developed and used simulation model takes into account all the design features of the cabin under study, including the location and characteristics of welding points. Various variants of cabin design changes and their impact on the ability to meet the requirements of UN Regulations 29 are investigated. It has been found that it is not possible to fully comply with the requirements of UN Regulation No. 29 only by increasing (within reasonable limits) the thickness of individual elements of the cabin frame and/or using high-strength steel for their manufacture. Based on the analysis of the deformation of the prototype cabin frame during Test C according to UN Regulation 29 Revision 2, proposals for changes to the cabin design are formulated to meet the requirement of UN Regulation 29. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate the encouraging of the proposed changes to the cabin design.