Title: A linear study of the transient and steady turning behaviour of articulated buses

Authors: F. Vlk

Addresses: Department of Automobile Engineering, Technical University of Bmo, Czechoslovakia

Abstract: A linear mathematical model has been developed for studying the directional responses to step steering input of two types of articulated buses. The following concepts are discussed: vehicle A with rear engine and (non-steered) trailing axle powered and vehicle B with rear engine, steered trailing axle and middle axle powered. The articulated bus is treated as a linear dynamic system with three degrees of freedom. Directional responses of the yaw rates of the two vehicle units, the sideslip angle of the front section and the articulation angle between the front and rear sections to step steer angle inputs have to be determined in order to evaluate the manoeuvrability of the vehicle system. Results of the series of sample calculations are presented with the objective of indicating the manner in which directional response characteristics are influenced by various vehicle design parameters, such as loading condition, position of centre of mass, location of turntable centre, mass and yaw moment of inertia of vehicle units, and tyre cornering stiffness. The calculations also show that the directional dynamics of this type of vehicle are substantially affected by the vehicle velocity and damping between the sections of the articulated bus.

Keywords: articulated buses; directional dynamics; directional response; linear analysis; digital simulation; vehicle modelling; transient turning; mathematical modelling; steady turning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1984.061096

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1984 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.171 - 196

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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