THE INFLUENCE OF WEIGHTS AND DIMENSIONS ON THE STABILITY AND CONTROL OF HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS IN CANADA. FINAL REPORT. VOLUME III - APPENDICES C-F

The stability and control characteristics of heavy-duty truck combinations used in Canada were determined as an aid for the development of new regulations on the weights and dimensions of vehicles in interprovincial trucking. Surveys were made, dynamic performance characteristics were analyzed, and full-scale tests were made of 3 of the selected vehicles. The results serve to classify the contrasting dynamic performance qualities of some 22 vehicle configurations, distinguished by number and placement of axles, number of trailers, and type of hitching mechanisms. Also, the sensitivity of the dynamic behavior of each configuration to variations in weights and dimensions, as well as certain component properties, is determined. Novel measures of performance were developed for characterizing (1) the dynamic stability of roll-coupled trailer combinations and the offtracking overshoot in a rapid path-change maneuver, and (2) the potential for low-speed jackknife while towing a trailer with multiple-wide spread axles around a tight turn. Generalized performance evaluation techniques are outlined for future use in examining prospective new vehicle combinations.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150

  Canroad Transportation Research Corporation

  1765 Saint Laurent Boulevard
  Ottawa KIG 3V4, -  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Ervin, R D
  • Guy, Y
• Publication Date: 1986-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 125 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Axles; Heavy duty trucks; Hitches; Jackknifing; Laws; Maneuverability; Motor vehicles; Stability (Mechanics); Trailers; Trucks; Vehicle dynamics
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Old TRIS Terms: Truck laws & regulations
• Subject Areas: Law; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496124
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-86-35/111, HS-039 704
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM