On November 25, 2025, Golden Dragon Bus welcomed a special guest for an exchange visit and to witness the on-site rollover test of its next-generation platform model: Professor Clive Chirwa, an international authority in structural mechanics, founder (and Editor-in-Chief) of the renowned automotive safety journal International Journal of Crashworthiness, and an expert affiliated with a National "111 Plan" Discipline Innovation and Talent Introduction Base. The successful test and the professor's subsequent acclaim demonstrate that Chinese buses have reached world-class levels in passive safety design and structural mechanics application, adding profound technological depth and safety credibility to the global reputation of "Golden Dragon Manufacturing."

Authoritative Validation: Where Mechanical Theory Meets Engineering Practice

At 3 p.m., in front of Golden Dragon's rollover test platform, Professor Clive Chirwa and the Golden Dragon engineering team watched with bated breath as the test commenced. Designed to evaluate a bus's ability to protect occupants under extreme rollover conditions, this test is a critical assessment of passive safety performance.

With a solid impact, the test vehicle rolled onto the impact platform. Following a meticulous on-site inspection, the results were officially announced: under the stringent European ECE R66 standard, the Golden Dragon bus's body frame structure remained intact, the occupant survival space was uncompromised, and the impact forces measured on the test dummies were well within safe limits. The test was a complete success. Professor Chirwa promptly approached the vehicle, carefully examined the deformation of key load-bearing components such as the A-pillar, B-pillar, and roof side rails, and engaged in detailed discussion with Golden Dragon's chief structural engineer.

"Very impressive!" Professor Chirwa remarked in an interview. "This is not just a successful test; it is an exemplary translation of profound structural mechanics principles into outstanding engineering practice. I closely examined the deformation patterns of the body structure and its energy absorption pathways. Golden Dragon's understanding of material properties, its balance between structural rigidity and flexibility, and its design for crash energy management all demonstrate an exceptionally high standard. As a precisely engineered mechanical system, the body frame can absorb tremendous energy through controlled deformation in a crisis, creating a robust 'safety capsule' for passengers. China's forward-looking investment and achievements in bus safety are truly commendable."

Technical Synergy: From Theoretical Frontiers to Mass Production

At the subsequent technical exchange session, Golden Dragon's R&D team systematically presented the vehicle's full development process—from concept design and CAE simulation analysis to test validation. Through continuous structural optimization, Golden Dragon has achieved top-tier safety performance in roof crush, side-impact, and rollover scenarios while maintaining vehicle lightweighting.

Professor Chirwa praised Golden Dragon for its efficient application of cutting-edge mechanical theories in mass-produced vehicles. He stated, "Bus safety is a complex systems engineering challenge involving materials science, structural mechanics, and manufacturing processes. Golden Dragon has established a comprehensive closed-loop R&D system from virtual simulation to physical verification, ensuring the precise execution of its safety designs. Particularly notable are the innovative hybrid applications of composite materials and high-strength steel, along with optimizations in key joint areas, which show significant alignment with some of the frontier research directions from our collaborations with institutions like Imperial College London and companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Volvo."

On behalf of the company, Zhang Gang, Director of the Golden Dragon Bus Technology Center, expressed gratitude for Professor Chirwa's visit and expert insights. He stated, "Golden Dragon has always adhered to the 'safety first' R&D philosophy. The success of this rollover test is our most robust safety commitment to customers worldwide." Moving forward, the company will continue to deepen its R&D investments in foundational scientific fields such as structural safety and new material applications, while expanding cooperation with the international academic and industrial communities to jointly advance the progress of global bus safety technology.

Source : www.chinabuses.org

Editor : Sissi

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