Side/roll when exposed to a strong gust of wind

[broisdumb]

Could someone please give me an answer with a scientific explanation for:

Would a stationary vehicle or the same vehicle moving straight, at speed be more likely to be flipped over onto its side/roll when exposed to a strong gust of wind blowing at its side ("approx. perpendicular to the vehicle/direction of the vehicle")?

Its based on an argument I'm having, i have my thoughts but don't have a scientific explanation or reasoning -.-

Cheers

 

[rcgldr]

If the vehicle is moving, and it's just a short gust of wind, the vehicle could steer to prevent rolling over. There might be a minor stability affect due to gyroscopic forces at the tires, but this would only help with the unsprung stuff below the shocks and springs, like the tires.

 

[Ranger Mike]

if the car was set up with any aero at all
it would have more down force applying to the tires if moving at a decent speed
ya got to be mving to make the down force via splitters , rear spoilers/ wings etc
to some degree this applies to side force wind too, so IMO
a good aero car will be more stable moving than stationary simply because of the slippery aero features
if it is a 66 Dodge Corent or Ford Fairlane that was slab side box design
or tall Jeep Wrangler it probably would not matter
i just saw a video on Fox News about a semi tractor trailer being blown over by winds
the sheriffs car following had the camera rolling
but the truck/trailer had all kinds of square footage area that the gust of wind hit
cruiser following it was not effected

bottom line is
if you got enuff blow, you"ll go..over

 

[broisdumb]

i just saw a video on Fox News about a semi tractor trailer being blown over by winds
the sheriffs car following had the camera rolling
but the truck/trailer had all kinds of square footage area that the gust of wind hit
cruiser following it was not effected

thats what started the argument haha...the reporter said that the sheriff had told the truck to pull over before it was blown over...so would pulling over have saved it?

 

[Ranger Mike]

i doubt it
too much area for wind to hit
trucker should have parked it some where like a gulley
behind big building
anything to break the wind
but i have no emperical data just opinion
you know what free advice is worth

 

[mheslep]

thats what started the argument haha...the reporter said that the sheriff had told the truck to pull over before it was blown over...so would pulling over have saved it?

Hard to say, but I am sure the main point of enforcing the pull overs is that it avoids the roll over or loss of control _while_ the truck is moving at ~50mph which has a much greater chance of blocking the highway and injuring someone.

 

[russ_watters]

He could have found an overpass to sit under or pulled over at a turn where he would be pointed into the wind until the storm passed.