Title: A theoretical study on the stability of car-caravan systems under the influence of crosswind

Authors: Giacomo Mantriota

Addresses: Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Ambiente e per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile, Politecnico di Bari, Viale del Turismo, 8, 74100 Taranto, Italy

Abstract: The paper deals with the dynamic behaviour of car-caravan systems under the action of crosswind. Resonant condition has been studied due to the turbulence of the wind, the speed of the car, the location of the centroid of the system and the cornering stiffness of the axle. The influence of the driver on the dynamic behaviour of the system has been considered using a compensation-tracking model. Moreover, the critical speed of the car for discrete, sinusoidal and turbulent wind has been evaluated.

Keywords: car-caravan systems; driver behaviour; crosswinds; wind turbulence; vehicle stability; articulated vehicles; vehicle dynamics; vehicle speed; centroid location; axle cornering stiffness; compensation tracking; modelling; discrete gusts; sinusoidal gusts; turbulent gusts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2005.008578

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2005 Vol.1 No.1/2/3, pp.168 - 191

Published online: 04 Jan 2006 *

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