Title: Steering strategies for multi-axle vehicles

Authors: Kerem Bayar, Y. Samim Unlusoy

Addresses: Centre for Automotive Research, The Ohio State University, 930 Kinnear Rd., Columbus, OH 43212, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06531, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: The object of this study is to extend 4WS idea to an n-axle vehicle in general and to simulate some multi-axle vehicles with the derived strategies in an attempt to determine the best steering strategy. By extending the strategies used for four-wheel steering two-axle vehicles which have been extensively studied in literature, general strategies are established for an n-axle vehicle. Using integrated nonlinear ride and handling models in Matlab & Simulink, it is shown that lateral acceleration and yaw velocity responses can be improved while keeping zero vehicle sideslip angle by steering wheels on intermediate axles.

Keywords: multi-axle vehicles; multi-axle steering; 4WS; steering strategy; handling; vehicle sideslip angle; four-wheel steering; ride models; handling models; lateral acceleration; yaw velocity; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2008.022243

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2008 Vol.15 No.2/3/4, pp.208 - 236

Published online: 24 Dec 2008 *

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