Article: Analytical and experimental investigation of roll stability of a truck towing a special purpose trailer with no suspension Journal: International Journal of Vehicle Performance (IJVP) 2022 Vol.8 No.2/3 pp.296 - 315 Abstract: There are an increasing number of systems available to increase roll stability; however some are not present on all vehicles. Most recent research is focused on ways to improve roll stability, but research into the roll stability of existing vehicles is also important in determining safe operating conditions. This study investigates the roll stability of three vehicles towing a special-purpose trailer currently in use that has no brakes or suspension. Multibody dynamics models of the vehicles were built to simulate vehicle performance on high-speed turns and lane changes. Model validation was performed by comparing results between the simulation and physical testing. Roll stability was assessed by comparing static roll threshold (SRT) and load transfer ratio (LTR) values. All of the vehicles were shown to meet performance standards on a smooth surface, but introduction of surface roughness significantly decreased the roll stability of the trailer due to the lack of suspension. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Analytical and experimental investigation of roll stability of a truck towing a special purpose trailer with no suspension

Authors: Luke Steiginga; Wei Huang; Gordon Poole

Addresses: Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1S2, Canada ' Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1S2, Canada ' Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1S2, Canada

Abstract: There are an increasing number of systems available to increase roll stability; however some are not present on all vehicles. Most recent research is focused on ways to improve roll stability, but research into the roll stability of existing vehicles is also important in determining safe operating conditions. This study investigates the roll stability of three vehicles towing a special-purpose trailer currently in use that has no brakes or suspension. Multibody dynamics models of the vehicles were built to simulate vehicle performance on high-speed turns and lane changes. Model validation was performed by comparing results between the simulation and physical testing. Roll stability was assessed by comparing static roll threshold (SRT) and load transfer ratio (LTR) values. All of the vehicles were shown to meet performance standards on a smooth surface, but introduction of surface roughness significantly decreased the roll stability of the trailer due to the lack of suspension.

Keywords: multibody dynamics; simulation; roll dynamics; TruckSim; roughness index; truck and trailer; model validation; SRT; static roll threshold; LTR; load transfer ratio; suspensionless trailer; roll stability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVP.2022.122064

International Journal of Vehicle Performance, 2022 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.296 - 315

Received: 01 Aug 2020
Accepted: 22 Feb 2021
Published online: 08 Apr 2022 *

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Title: Analytical and experimental investigation of roll stability of a truck towing a special purpose trailer with no suspension

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