Retarders for Heavy Vehicles: Evaluation of Performance Characteristics and In-Service Costs. Volume I: Technical Report

摘要

The potential benefits to be derived from retarder use in heavy truck applications are evaluated in terms of (1) productivity gains due to decreased trip time, (2) cost savings due to decreased brake wear and maintenance, and (3) safety enhancement due to reduced probability of a runaway accident. The physical factors influencing downhill speed control are described and analyzed. The characteristics of currently available retarders are discussed. An assessment of the retarder market and its future potential is presented. An examination of available accident information is employed in developing safety performance analyses of heavy vehicles on downgrade sections of highways. The results of these various studies are applied in summarizing the items that prospective buyers of retarders need to know in order to estimate the cost benefits to be obtained from various levels of retarder power.