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There have been many studies regarding the stability of vehicles following a sudden air loss event in a tire. Previous works have included literature reviews, full-scale vehicle testing, and computer modeling analyses. Some works have validated physics-based computer vehicle simulation models for passenger vehicles and other works have validated models for heavy commercial vehicles. This work describes a study wherein a validated vehicle dynamics computer model has been applied to extrapolate results to higher event speeds that are consistent with travel speeds on contemporary North American highways. This work applies previously validated vehicle dynamics models to study the stability of a five-axle commercial tractor-semitrailer vehicle following a sudden air loss event for a steer axle tire. Further, the work endeavors to understand the analytical tire model for tires that experience a sudden air loss.

Determining impact speeds is an important factor in any accident reconstruction. Event data recorders are now commonplace in on-road vehicles and provide an added tool for the accident reconstructionist. However, in low-speed collisions where impact severity is often important, event data recorders fail to record data as the minimum threshold for impact severity sometimes is not met. Alternatively, damage-based methods may be ineffective in quantifying the severity of the impact due to a lack of defined vehicle crush damage. These types of scenarios oftentimes present themselves as a bullet vehicle in the beginning processes of accelerating from a stop or when a stopped target vehicle is rear-ended from behind by the bullet vehicle.