Effects of weight on performance of transit vehicles

The incorporation of heavy components into new drive systems, alternative fuel technologies, and passenger assistance devices has led to significant increases in the gross weight of transit vehicles in recent years. It has been reported that almost 90% of large (12 m in length) transit buses exceed the maximum single-axle loads allowed in the United States. The increased weight has a strong influence on important performance characteristics such as level of dynamic tire forces, stopping distance, roll stability, and emissions. The focus of this paper is on those performance characteristics that affect the safety of transit vehicles. The results presented come from experimental testing of transit buses conducted at the Federal Transit Administrations Bus Testing Center operated by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute and from computer simulation.

• Record URL:
  http://road-transport-technology.org/conferenceproceedings/ishvwd-8/
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1920017305
• Authors:
  • Kulakowski, B T
  • Muthiah, S
  • Yu, N
  • Klinikowski, D J
• Conference:
  • International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions, 8th, 2004, Muldersdrift, South Africa
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 7p
• Monograph Title: Loads roads and the information highway: 8th International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions, 14-18 March 2004, Misty Hills Conference Centre, Muldersdrift, Gauteng, South Africa

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Axle loads; Buses; Driving; Heavy vehicles; Rolling contact; Steering; Stopping distances; Tires; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle safety; Vehicle weight
• Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
• ATRI Terms: Axle load; Braking distance; Bus; Emissions control; Heavy vehicle; Stability; Steering; Tyre; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle handling; Vehicle pavement interaction; Vehicle safety; Vehicle weight
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01390952
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 1920017305
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 23 2012 5:09AM