STABILITY OF ARTICULATED VEHICLES ON CORNERS

WHEN NEGOTIATING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE OR BEND IN THE ROAD, THE ARTICULATED TRACTOR/TRAILER COMBINATION IS IN A CONTINUOUSLY VARYING TRANSIENT STATE; THE DRIVER WINDING STEERING LOCK ANGLE ON WHEN APPROACHING THE CORNER AND UN-WINDING ON THE EXIT. THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD CONDITION OF THE TRACTOR FRONT WHEELS IS REACHED BEFORE THE TRAILER AXLE COMES INTO LINE, THE FINAL LINING UP PROCESS BEING GRADUALLY ACHIEVED. SIMILARLY, IF A PARTICULAR STEERING LOCK ANGLE IS HELD CONTINUOULSY, THE COMBINATION WILL DRIVE THROUGH A TRANSIENT CONDITION INTO A STEADY STATE WHERE THE OUTFIT FOLLOWS A CIRCULAR PATH. HANDLING AND CORNERING STABILITY OF ARTICULATED VEHICLES CAN BE IMPROVED BY MORE EFFICIENT STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF TRACTOR AND SEMI-TRAILER FRAME, AND MORE AND BETTER LIAISON BETWEEN TRACTOR AND SEMI-TRAILER MANUFACTURES TO CONTROL FRAME TORSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, FIFTH WHEEL DESIGN AND SUSPENSION ROLL STIFFNESSES.

• Corporate Authors:

  N/A

  ,   United States 
• Authors:
  • Boulton, F W
• Publication Date: 1973-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 31-4
• Serial:
  • Journal of Automotive Engineering
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dynamics; Handling characteristics; Stability (Mechanics); Steering; Stiffness; Torsion; Tractor trailer combinations; Trailers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Articulated vehicles; Dynamic characteristics; Handling
• Old TRIS Terms: Cornering (Vehicle)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00224496
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 5 2003 12:00AM