Title: Tractor-trailer modelling and validation

Authors: Sahril Kushairi; Reinhard Schmidt; Abdul Rahman Omar; Ahmad Azlan Mat Isa; Khisbullah Hudha

Addresses: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University Technology MARA, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Mechanik, Maschinendynamik u. Simulation, University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck, Osnabrueck, Germany ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University Technology MARA, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University Technology MARA, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National Defense University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: The main purpose of this project is to validate a multibody tractor-trailer model that was developed and simulated in ADAMS/Car that used tandem independent suspension system. This newly designed independent suspension takes the advantage of double wishbone concept. This article describes the modelling, experimental procedures and validation process used for a project with Gigant-group in order to obtain a validated trailer model equipped with the independent suspension. The validation process is important to ensure that the model dynamics behaviour created follows closely the dynamics behaviour of the real trailer. Therefore a multibody model of a tractor-trailer was developed using ADAMS/Car for this purpose. The model was then validated by comparing the simulation data and results obtained from test track on real vehicle.

Keywords: simulation; multibody dynamics; dynamic modelling; tractor-trailer systems; trailer suspension; model validation; heavy vehicles; double wishbone concept; independent suspension.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2014.057802

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2014 Vol.21 No.1, pp.64 - 82

Published online: 22 Oct 2014 *

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