Search Results

This study examines through computer simulation the vehicle dynamics regime of vehicle entry into a travel lane via traversal of a vertical change in pavement elevation. A three-dimensional vehicle dynamics software package is used to model a vehicle as a six degree-of-freedom sprung mass with up to five degrees-of-freedom for each unsprung mass for each axle. The parameters of the simulator’s radial and sidewall tire force models are determined through correlation with full-scale vehicle traversal tests. The correlation parameters include vehicle speed, heading, yaw rate and lateral acceleration. The simulation is first calibrated by successfully modeling vehicle traversal of a pavement edge at shallow angles.