Handling Test Procedures for Passenger Cars Pulling Trailers. Volume I -Summary Report.

摘要

The report summarizes the development and validation of handling test procedures for car/trailer (articulated) vehicle combinations. Some 20different limit and sub-limit maneuvers are investigated. Four pragmatic test procedures are selected and defined which enable discrimination of handling characteristics on the basis of quantitative performance parameters. The test maneuvers (step steer,pulse steer,brake-in-straight-line,and brake-in-turn) are representative of realistic sub-limit and emergency driving situations. The maneuvers and performance parameters are demonstrated to be applicable to a broad range of car/trailer combinations and hitch loading configuration;pertinent to both transient and steady-state dynamic properties,reasonable in cost,and practicable and applicable in diverse geographical regions of the United States or foreign countries. Tentative criteria for safe versus unsafe performance are suggested.