Title: Effect of off-centred loading on roll stability of multi-trailer trucks

Authors: Yang Chen; Xiaohan Zheng; Zichen Zhang; Mehdi Ahmadian

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering Center for Vehicle Systems and Safety, Virginia Tech, VA, 24061, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering Center for Vehicle Systems and Safety, Virginia Tech, VA, 24061, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering Center for Vehicle Systems and Safety, Virginia Tech, VA, 24061, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering Center for Vehicle Systems and Safety, Virginia Tech, VA, 24061, USA

Abstract: The effect of partial loading on the wheel tip-up and rollover stability of 28-ft A-double tractor-trailers is studied using TruckSim®. The model parameters are determined based on measurements and test data, and the model is validated using track data. Four loading conditions are considered: empty, side-loaded, front-loaded, and fully-loaded. The simulation results of a 150-ft J-turn manoeuvre indicate that front- and side-loading of the rear trailer leads to the largest load transfer ratio (LTR) and tip-up, compared with loaded and unloaded conditions. Beyond the trailers' dynamics, unloaded and side-loaded conditions result in lower dolly tip-up speeds, compared with the other load conditions. The side-loaded condition yields the lowest critical rollover speed (CRS). The fully loaded trailer is more prone to rollover than the front-loaded and unloaded cases. The study also suggests that for loaded and partially-loaded cases the static stability factor (SSF) can provide a good first-order estimate of CRS.

Keywords: off-centred loading; 28-ft A-double; commercial vehicle; roll stability; rollover; tip-up; J-turn; LTR; load transfer ratio; CRS; critical rollover speed; SSF; static stability factor.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVP.2022.122046

International Journal of Vehicle Performance, 2022 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.271 - 295

Received: 08 Aug 2020
Accepted: 11 Dec 2020
Published online: 08 Apr 2022 *

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