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The on-road lateral stability of an articulated steer vehicle is investigated for both small and high deviations. First, for small deviations, a linear model of the vehicle is devised and analyzed. This planar model is generated based on some simplifying assumptions. For instance, the equations describing the tire forces and moments are linearized, and the tire rolling resistance is neglected. A linear stability analysis of the straight line motion of the vehicle with constant forward speed is conducted by using this simplified model for different values of the torsional stiffness and damping at the articulation joint. To investigate the lateral stability of the vehicle at higher deviations, the motion of a virtual prototype of the vehicle in ADAMS/View is simulated for different conditions. Finally, the results from the simulations and the linear stability analyses are compared.

To remove the snaking mode of an articulated steer vehicle, an active steering system is proposed. First, the existing steering systems of articulated steer vehicles, including hydraulic-mechanical and hydrostatic steering systems, are reviewed. Then, a combined linearized model of the vehicle with a hydraulic-mechanical steering system is developed. By using this model, two passive methods to decrease the snaking, including an increase in the friction at the articulation joint and leakage across the cylinders are detailed. To overcome the shortcomings of these solutions, an active steering system is also introduced. It is shown that the proposed steering system not only removes the instability, but also improves the steering response of the vehicle.