Title: A sensitivity study of some existing truck dynamic simulation programs

Authors: Williams J. Kenis, Jamel Hammouda

Addresses: Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, Pavements Division, HNR-20, 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101-2296, USA. ' Computer Communications and Graphics, Inc., 8484 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA

Abstract: This study was conducted to assess the sensitivity of three computer truck simulation programs; the MIT Berkeley VESYM, the Federal Highway Administration VSIM2d, and the University of Michigan PHASE4 models. The capabilities of each programme to predict vertical tyre/pavement forces are summarised and modelling differences between simulations are discussed. The study varied selected parameters associated with FHWA|s instrumented 2-axle truck in increments over a prescribed interval. The parameters varied included vehicle speed, road roughness, axle mass, tyre stiffness, suspension stiffness, suspension coulomb friction and shock viscous damping. The effect of changing each parameter on the Dynamic Load Coefficient, and the Dynamic Impact Factor was investigated and results were analysed in terms of the basic differences in the models. Observations relating to the significance of the parameters have been made.

Keywords: dynamic tyre forces; truck dynamics; truck simulation; vehicle dynamics; tyre-pavement forces; dynamic loads; vehicle speed; road roughness; axle mass; tyre stiffness; suspension stiffness; suspension coulomb friction; shock viscous damping; vehicle suspensions; heavy vehicles; vehicle vibration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.1996.054565

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 1996 Vol.3 No.1/2/3/4, pp.275 - 292

Published online: 18 Jun 2013 *

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