Title: Effect of road profile on heavy vehicles with air suspension

Authors: Oscar M. Gonzalez, Juan C. Jauregui, Alejandro Lozano, Gilberto Herrera

Addresses: CIATEQ, Circuito Aguascalientes Nte 135, PIVA, Aguascalientes, 20355, Mexico. ' CIATEQ, Circuito Aguascalientes Nte 135, PIVA, Aguascalientes, 20355, Mexico. ' IMT (Mexican Transport Institute), Av. Popocateptl 506, Mexico, D.F. 03330, Mexico. ' Centro Universitario, University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Qro, Mexico

Abstract: This study presents a seven degree of freedom, dynamic model for a two-axle vehicle which is used to analyse the influence of road profile on the vehicle|s rollover capabilities and ride characteristics. Non-linear elements are included due to the air suspension featured in the vehicle. Road roughness is represented as a Power Spectral Density (PSD) function acting as an exciting force on the unsprung masses of the seven degree of freedom model, and solved numerically for both rollover simulation and lane change manoeuvre. Results indicate that road surface does have a significant impact on a vehicle|s performance since it may prompt the vehicle to flip over below its rollover threshold.

Keywords: air suspension; road profile; road roughness; rollover threshold; heavy vehicles; dynamic modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2007.011799

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2007 Vol.14 No.1, pp.98 - 110

Published online: 22 Dec 2006 *

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