EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE ROLLOVER THRESHOLD OF FOUR TRACTOR-SEMITRAILER COMBINATION VEHICLES. FINAL REPORT

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has evaluated the roll stability properties of four configurations of a tractor-semitrailer combination vehicle. The primary element of this evaluation was a series of full-scale tilt-table experiments. A tilt-table facility, composed of five individual tilt tables, each designed to support one axle of the vehicle, was designed and fabricated during the project. The vehicle was tested with four configurations of the semitrailer--two different trailers, each in two loading conditions. Results quantify the influence of the different test configurations, as well as illuminate the importance of the properties of the tractor suspensions. Recommendations are made as to how to improve the roll stability of the vehicle.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150
• Authors:
  • Winkler, C B
• Publication Date: 1987-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 77 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Improvements; Motor vehicles; Recommendations; Rollover crashes; Size; Stability (Mechanics); Tractor trailer combinations; Vehicle tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Vehicle configurations
• Old TRIS Terms: Test results
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I95: Vehicle Inspection;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496535
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTRI-87-31, HS-040 408
• Contract Numbers: 33-8665
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM