Title: Tractor-semitrailer jackknifing elimination using semitrailer differential braking technique

Authors: Mohamed Abd Elazeem Elhemly; Mohamed Abd Elghany Fayed; Ali Abd Elghany Elmaihy

Addresses: Technical Research and Development Centre, Cairo 11768, Egypt ' Department of Engineering Mechanics, Military Technical College, Cairo 11663, Egypt ' Technical Research and Development Centre, Vehicle Researches Group, Cairo 11768, Egypt

Abstract: This paper presents a new control strategy called "Semitrailer Differential Braking Technique" (SDBT) to improve the stability of a two-axle tractor combined with a three-axle semitrailer equipped with a standard Antilock Braking System (ABS) during evasive manoeuvres at high speed using a new validated Simulink program. The new concept is based on monitoring of the yaw rate difference between the tractor and semitrailer and applying differential braking on the semitrailer at a certain articulation rate threshold. The new proposed control strategy will make the semitrailer act as smart equipment regardless of the tractor type, because tractors and semitrailers are built by different manufacturers.

Keywords: tractor-semitrailer jackknifing; semitrailer differential braking; heavy vehicles; vehicle stability; two-axle tractors; three-axle semitrailers; antilock braking system; ABS; evasive manoeuvres; high speed; vehicle speed; simulation; yaw rate monitoring; articulation rate threshold; control strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2013.051100

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2013 Vol.20 No.1, pp.19 - 34

Published online: 30 Oct 2013 *

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