THE INFLUENCE OF SIZE AND WEIGHT VARIABLES ON THE ROLL STABILITY OF HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS

The roll stability of heavy-duty trucks and truck combinations is discussed both on the level of the fundamental mechanics of vehicle response and from the viewpoint of the quantitative influence of size and weight variables. The presentation on fundamentals begins with the case of a rigidly-suspended vehicle and builds up to the case of a tractor-semitrailer with distinctive suspension stiffnesses and spring lash properties at the various axle positions. Size and weight considerations cover variations in axle load, gross weight, and overall width as well as incidental issues involving the height and possible lateral offset of the payload center of gravity. Size and weight influences on roll stability are interpreted in terms of the likely implications for rollover accident involvement.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • West Coast International Meeting Vancouver, British Columbia, August 8-11, 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Ervin, R D
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 26 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Heavy duty trucks; Rollover crashes; Size; Stability (Mechanics); Tractor trailer combinations; Trucks; Trucks by weight; Weight
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00379613
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 831163, HS-034 994
• Files: HSL, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1983 12:00AM