Analytical and experimental investigation of roll stability of a truck towing a special purpose trailer with no suspension

摘要

There are an increasing number of systems available to increase roll stability; however some are not present on all vehicles. Most recent research is focused on ways to improve roll stability, but research into the roll stability of existing vehicles is also important in determining safe operating conditions. This study investigates the roll stability of three vehicles towing a special-purpose trailer currently in use that has no brakes or suspension. Multibody dynamics models of the vehicles were built to simulate vehicle performance on high-speed turns and lane changes. Model validation was performed by comparing results between the simulation and physical testing. Roll stability was assessed by comparing static roll threshold (SRT) and load transfer ratio (LTR) values. All of the vehicles were shown to meet performance standards on a smooth surface, but introduction of surface roughness significantly decreased the roll stability of the trailer due to the lack of suspension.