TRAILER BRAKE PERFORMANCE

The goals of the research project were threefold, namely, (1) to elucidate the mechanics of combination-vehicle braking (where combination vehicles refers to passenger car-trailer and pickup truck-trailer combination vehicles), (2) to structure a rationale for measuring trailer braking properties, and (3) to formulate a set of guidelines by which tow and trailing vehicles can be properly matched to provide acceptable combination-vehicle braking performance. The report describes analytical and empirical work aimed toward attaining these goals, including parameter sensitivity studies employing digital computer simulation and full-scale track testing of five tow vehicles and five trailers. Parameter measurements of the test trailers were also included.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also PB-262 176.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Highway Safety Research Institute
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States 

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • BERNARD, J E
  • Winkler, C B
  • Campbell, J D
  • Gupta, R K
• Publication Date: 1976-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 29 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brakes; Braking; Dynamic loads; Guidelines; Passenger vehicles; Simulation; Specifications; Standards; Tests; Towed vehicles; Towing vehicles; Trailers; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic response
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00151153
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: UM-HSRI-76-24-1, DOT-HS-802-100
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-5-01152
• Files: NTIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 30 2002 12:00AM