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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 methodology has been developed to use a road simulator for the measurement of dynamic wheel loads of heavy trucks. By itself, this provides a procedure for quantifying performance and ranking different suspensions with regard to their dynamic loading of pavements, but more importantly, when used in an integrated systems approach for suspension design, it provides a means to validate simulation models and objectively measure improvement achieved by various design options.