Citation

Depont J. Proc. Int. Tech. Conf. Enhanced Safety Vehicles 1992; 1992: 252-259.

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes an experimental programme whose aim is to develop a technique for assessing the dynamic wheel force behaviour of heavy vehicle suspensions using a two post servo- hydraulic shaker facility. The assessment technique involves fitting linear voltage differential transformers (LVDTs) between the axle and the chassis and with axle mounted accelerometers adjacent to the suspension units being assessed. The vehicle is then submitted to a series of road tests and its response as measured by the transducers is recorded. The vehicle is then returned to the laboratory and mounted onto two servo-hydraulic shakers. These are used to replicate the measured on road response for the wheels being excited. Load cells in the vehicle support platform are then used to measure the resulting wheel forces. Brief details of the design of the shakers are presented, as is the design of the remote parameter compensation software (RPC) used in association with it. This assessment technique was validated using an extensively instrumented liquid tanker. Details of the instrumentation used, and the test sites used, and the methods of calculating wheel forces are provided. The results indicate that the complete test involving three or four pavement sections could be completed in a day. Further work is recommended.