Citation

Woodrooffe JH, El-Gindy M. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 1992; 1992: 30-35.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, In public domain, Publisher National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this paper a set of handling performance measures, including suggested criteria, are presented for assessing vehicle design variables. The measures put forward are suitable for use with a single computer program adapted for use on a PC. It is controlled by a post- processor that calculates each measure according to predetermined manoeuvres and yields a pass/fail conclusion. The objective of this paper is to present and discuss two of these performance measures and to demonstrate their application in the determination of acceptable wheelbases for tractors used in B-Train doubles. The "acceptability" is shown to depend on the characteristics of individual vehicle componentry, in this case the tractor's tandem-axle suspension roll stiffness, thereby revealing that weights- and dimension- based assessments are by no means adequate to determine if a vehicle can meet reasonable minimum dynamic performance standards.