Title: Directional stability of articulated tank vehicles: A simplified model

Authors: G. Mantriota

Addresses: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Gestionale, Politecnico di Bari, Viale Japigia, 182, 70126 Bari, Italy

Abstract: A simplified model is proposed in this work for the study of the directional stability of articulated tank vehicles. The liquid in the tank is simulated through elementary pendulums distributed longitudinally inside it. A mathematical model of the articulated vehicle is reached that, compared to the case of fixed cargo, has only two further degrees of freedom. The closed formulation, obtained through the linear mathematical model, allows the appraisal of the articulated vehicles behaviour in global terms. The critical speed for the variation of the fill level is calculated and the results of the vehicles dynamic response to a step variation of the steering angle are reported.

Keywords: articulated vehicle; dynamic; liquid cargo; liquid slosh; mathematical model; rollover; stability; tank-track; tank vehicle.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2003.002438

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2003 Vol.10 No.1/2, pp.144-165

Published online: 17 Jul 2003 *

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