Title: Study of the directional stability of fully articulated tank-vehicle under random excitation

Authors: M. Bouazara; M. Toumi; M.J. Richard

Addresses: Department of Applied Sciences, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Quebec, G7H-2B1, Canada ' Department of Applied Sciences, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Quebec, G7H-2B1, Canada ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laval University, Quebec, G1K-7P4, Canada

Abstract: Liquid forces and moments due to liquid sloshing are the major problems strongly related to the instability of a tank vehicle. The primary objective of this paper is to study and to compare simulated directional response for a vehicle transporting liquid load with that transporting rigid load charges. This comparison is investigated under several directional manoeuvres such as step steer, single lane and double lane change. The speed and tank fill level are also taken into consideration. The results highlight that the vehicle transporting liquid experiences more load transfer. The difference can reach easily 15% to 20%.

Keywords: analytical modelling; tank vehicles; random excitation; directional stability; liquid sloshing; fully articulated vehicles; liquid forces; liquid moments; simulation; directional manoeuvres; step steer; lane changes; vehicle speed; tank fill level; load transfer; road tankers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2014.061455

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2014 Vol.9 No.2, pp.193 - 205

Received: 22 Jan 2013
Accepted: 10 Dec 2013

Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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