Title: The towed vehicle as an oscillating system

Authors: László Gurmai; Péter Kiss

Addresses: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Automotive Technology, Institute of Process Engineering, Szent István University Páter K. u. 1., Gödöllo, H-2103, Hungary ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Automotive Technology, Institute of Process Engineering, Szent István University Páter K. u. 1., Gödöllo, H-2103, Hungary

Abstract: Vibrations set up in a vehicle by the excitations induced by the terrain profile lead to wear and eventually to structural deterioration. Excitation forces acting on a vehicle being towed across terrain cause vibrations that lead to wear and structural deterioration. The rate of deterioration depends on the road profile geometry and the dynamic properties of the vehicle. The research presented here attempts to find out how the response function of the vehicle depends on the transfer function of the structure and the level of road profile excitation. Knowledge of the relationship between the towed vehicle and the terrain profile will enable the design of an artificial road profile for fatigue testing with stresses similar to those that arise in normal use.

Keywords: fatigue tests; power spectral density; towed vehicles; oscillating systems; vehicle vibration; excitation forces; stresses; wear; structural deterioration; road profile geometry; vehicle dynamics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2014.066104

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2014 Vol.21 No.3, pp.262 - 280

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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