Title: Developing a novel method to reduce the steering force in heavy trucks

Authors: Gokay Uymaz; Metin Aydogdu

Addresses: HEMA Endustry A.S., R&D Center, Çerkezkoy, Tekirdag, 59500, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Trakya University, Edirne, 22180, Turkey

Abstract: This study investigates the vibration control as a new method for reducing the steering forces and tyre-road friction which occur in steering systems. In this study, the coefficient of friction between the tyre and road, is taken into account as a continuous dynamic and the friction force decreases in the dynamic condition, with the help of controlled vibration. A new system has been designed to replace the so-called drag link in the steering mechanism of commercial vehicles. The draglink replacement part provides controlled vibration for various amplitude and frequency. The new designed system was experimentally verified and then by substituting the experimentally obtained results in the equations, the decrease in the friction coefficient was calculated. Hereby, it has been tried to determine the suitable values of the vibration frequency and amplitude to convert the coefficient of friction between the wheel and the road to the lowest dynamic coefficient of friction. According to the test results, a measurable and significant reduction in steering forces has been determined.

Keywords: steering systems; tyre-road friction; vibration control; friction coefficient; dynamic friction; forced vibration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2022.127827

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2022 Vol.29 No.4, pp.343 - 370

Received: 03 Jul 2021
Accepted: 24 Dec 2021
Published online: 19 Dec 2022 *

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