Vibrational Comfort and Frictional Contact Between Tire and Pavement in Articulated, Two-Member Vehicles 785074

Articulated, two-member vehicles such as tractor-trailers are influenced by a multitude of factors (e.g., damping characteristics, weight distribution, geometry, etc.). Optimal suspension parameters require a mathematical analysis of vehicle vibration. The paper presents a model with six degrees of freedom which may be modified for different forms of articulated vehicles; also presented are associated matrices of weight, damping, spring stiffness, acceleration, speed, displacement, friction, and excitation values. Mass-distribution coefficients are defined for both tractor and trailer. Mathematical development is, in general, not presented but taken from previous studies.

The second part of the paper discusses the implications of these mathematical formulations. Interrelationships of the suspension elements and system parameters are described. Although tractor vibrational response is determined primarily by its own suspension, the effect of trailer characteristics is demonstrated. Advantages of different types of suspension elements are discussed and various improvements are specified.