Title: Directional stability of a straight truck equipped with a self-steering axle

Authors: P.A. LeBlanc, M. El-Gindy

Addresses: Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory, National Research Council of Canada, Canada. ' Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory, National Research Council of Canada, Canada

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of an experimental and theoretical study on the influence that a self-steering axle has on the directional stability of a straight truck. The truck was instrumented for stability and control tests by NRC|s Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory. The field tests were aimed at generating steady-state handling diagrams to evaluate the directional behaviour under different operating conditions. The handling diagrams obtained from the field tests are supplemented by a second set which were generated by combining the tilt-table test results with the analytical steady-state handling equation of the vehicle. Self-steering axles can be seen as providing an additional degree of freedom which significantly extends the outer bounds of possible handling characteristics. The study makes recommendations to minimise the deteriorating effect of self-steering axles.

Keywords: self-steering axle; vehicle stability; steady-state handling; straight trucks; directional behaviour; vehicle dynamics; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1992.061739

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1992 Vol.13 No.5/6, pp.459 - 474

Published online: 27 May 2014 *

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