Search Results

In the trucking industry, if one can both reduce operating cost and offer more value to the customers, any increase in initial price will be offset in the long term by reduced operating cost, added comfort, and added safety. Electronics is a technology that represents an opportunity for trucking companies to maintain and perhaps increase market share. In order for truck manufacturers to be successful with electronics, they need to know what electronic devices are available, what the devices can do for the customer, and how to integrate them into a complete system.

The suspension properties influencing the roll stability of heavy-duty vehicles are identified, and the fundamental mechanics of how they influence rollover are discussed. Test procedures for measuring these suspension properties using a tilt-table device and a cable-actuator setup are also discussed. In addition, results of a sensitivity study using a static rollover computer model are provided which illustrate how changes in each suspension property influence vehicle rollover. Lastly, a method of combining the results of the sensitivity study to determine how the suspension properties together influence vehicle rollover is given. This method allows easy comparison of the overall roll-stability performance of different suspensions.

This paper presents an overview of the development and application of a simulation model used for the study of tractor-semitrailer ride dynamics. The model incorporates system excitation from road roughness, nonlinear leaf spring characteristics, dynamic spring rate characteristics of air springs, and a first-order analysis model of frame flexure.

A quantitative measurement system for evaluating the amount of vision-obscuring splash and spray generated by a vehicle driving over wet pavement was developed and tested. The measurement system utilized a video camera, video I/O board, IBM-XT computer, and custom software to analyze images of spray clouds against a checkerboard background. Several vehicle configurations were tested and the system appeared to give reliable information on the size and density of the spray cloud.