ANALYSIS OF ROLLOVER DYNAMICS OF DOUBLE-BOTTOM TANKERS

A roll dynamic analysis was undertaken to determine the rollover threshold for typical double-bottom tanker vehicles and to compare that threshold with the corresponding values for other common tractor-trailer combinations. A secondary objective was to provide the methodology for predicting the effect of changes to vehicles and operational procedures in order to improve the rollover stability of such vehicles. A dynamic model of the vehicle in the roll plane was formulated for study of roll motions under arbitrary lateral force input time histories. The roll response and limit maneuver capabilities predicted by the model showed good agreement with those of actual vehicles. The model was used to predict the relative rollover thresholds of the double-bottom tanker (associated with a high incidence of rollover accidents in Michigan) and other tanker configurations for comparison with those of other commercial vehicles in a selected double lane-change maneuver. The model confirmed that double-bottom tankers of the current design exhibit a low rollover threshold compared to other commercial vehicles. The major sensitivity to rollover derives not so much from the lateral acceleration limit of the pup trailer as from the rearward amplification of the tractor lateral accelerations. The model demonstrated that a modification of the vehicle via a composite rigidified hitch/rubber mount enhances pup trailer stability through reduction of suspension backlash, and allows roll moment sharing among all the vehicles in the train. The result is a vehicle with manuever levels comparable with other commercial vehicles.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Truck Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan, 11-14 December 1978. See also HS-023 240, HS-025 618U, and HS-025 620U.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Gillespie, T D
  • VERMA, M K
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 10 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: Lateral acceleration; Mathematical models; Rollover crashes; Tankers; Tractor trailer combinations; Vehicle dynamics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Thresholds
• Old TRIS Terms: Double trailers; Vehicle responses
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399201
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 781065, HS-025 619U
• Contract Numbers: MPA-78-002A
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM