Technical Paper
Design of a Compensating Fifth Wheel for Improving the Roll Dynamic Behavior of the Tractors Semi-Trailers
2002-11-18
2002-01-3058
This work describes a 3 dimensional modeling technique for investigating the random response of tractor semitrailer systems considering different types of fifth wheels and their kinematic constraints. The inputs to the vehicle model are the power spectral density (PSD) of the vertical road irregularities considering different road types. In addition to the time delay axle correlation, the cross correlation between the left and right tracks is modeled using the coherence function. The masses of the driver/seat assembly, tractor, semi-trailer and wheel/axle assemblies as well as their suspension elements are considered in the vehicle model. The possibility of reducing the roll accelerations of both tractor and semi-trailer by using a compensating fifth wheel (articulation) has been studied. The designed fifth wheel is a fully oscillating unit. Using this fifth wheel, the tractor and semi-trailer could oscillate relatively in the pitch and roll directions.