Title: On the development of an early warning safety monitor for articulated freight vehicles

Authors: S. Rakheja, A. Piche, T.S. Sankar

Addresses: Associate Professor, CONCAVE Research Centre, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve W. Montreal, Quebec H3G IM8, Canada. ' Research Analyst, CONCAVE Research Centre, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve W. Montreal, Quebec H3G IM8, Canada. ' Professor, CONCAVE Research Centre, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve W. Montreal, Quebec H3G IM8, Canada

Abstract: An early warning safety monitor (EWSM) that can detect and warn drivers of an impending dynamic instability is proposed to improve the operational safety of articulated freight vehicles. Development of an EWSM involves: (1) quantitative description of onset of roll and yaw instabilities via directly measurable dynamic response quantities; (2) on-line monitoring of dynamic state of the vehicle and analyses; and (3) generation of an early warning on impending instabilities. Directional dynamics of articulated vehicles are investigated to determine vital response parameters related to onset of rollover and jack-knife. Parametric sensitivity analyses are conducted to quantify the dependency of identified response parameters on various design and operating conditions, and to establish reliable response parameters related to onset of dynamic instabilities. The response parameters are further examined in view of ease of on-line acquisition and analyses, and stability criteria are established to identify impending roll and jack-knife instabilities. The design of an EWSM to generate an early warning of the impending instabilities is discussed such that the driver can undertake a corrective action in appropriate time.

Keywords: articulated vehicles; freight vehicles; heavy vehicles; braking; computer simulation; directional manoeuvres; early warning; safety monitors; jackknife; response parameters; roll instability; rollover; sideslip; stiffness; suspension; tyres; yaw instability; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1991.061691

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1991 Vol.12 No.4, pp.420 - 449

Published online: 27 May 2014 *

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