Abstract:
AFRIKAANS: 'n Basiese toets spesifikasie, vir die toets van bak-kappies van ligte kommersieële voertuie word voorgestel. Die toets spesifikasie is 'n eerste stap na die kwalifikasie van die sterkte van bakkie-kappies tydens ongelukke. Die toets is ontwerp spesifiek met die omrol scenario in gedagte. Verskillende toets metodes is geëvalueer vir toepaslikheid, gemak van implementasie en finansiele beperkings gedurende die navorsingsfase. Die massa-, en geometriese-eienskappe van drie verskillende I ton bakkies is eksperimenteel gevind om as basis vir energie berekeninge te dien. Die energie wat elkeen van hierdie voertuie besit net voor dit omrol is bereken en as voorlopige toets kriterium gebruik. 'n Pendulum impak toets-prosedure sowel as 'n Eindige Element Analise (EEA) prosedure is in die voorlopige toets kriterium ingesluit. Die voorlopige toets kriterium is gedurende 'n volskaal impak toets op 'n bakkie-kappie toegepas. 'n Detail eindige element analise van die kappie struktuur is ook volgens die kriterium gedoen. Daar is bewys dat beide hierdie metodes lewensvatbaar is vir implementasie en dat dit gebruik kan word vir die verifieëring van die sterkte van bakkie-kappies. Die resultate gevind gedurende hierdie toetse is gebruik om die voorlopige toets kriterium aan te pas om 'n basiese toets-spesifikasie te verkry waarmee bakkie-kappies deur toets owerhede geevalueer kan word. ENGLISH: In this thesis a basic test specification for a canopy that covers the load¬bed-area of a light commercial vehicle (LCY) is proposed. The test specification is a first step towards the qualification of the strength of a canopy during an accident. The test is designed specifically with the rollover scenario in mind. Different testing methods were evaluated for applicability, ease of use and financial constraints during the research phase. The mass and geometric characteristics of three different 1 ton LCY's were found experimentally in order to set a basis for the energy calculations. The energy each of these vehicles possesses just prior to roll over was calculated and used to create preliminary testing criteria. A pendulum impact testing procedure as well as a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) procedure were incorporated into the preliminary testing criteria. The preliminary testing criteria were applied during a full scale pendulum impact test on a canopy and were also applied during a detailed finite element analysis of the canopy structure. It was shown that both of these test methods are viable and that they can be used as a canopy strength qualifying means. Finally the results found during the tests were used to adjust the preliminary testing criteria to form a basic test specification that can be used by testing and qualification facilities.
