Field Testing of Ground Vehicle Handling and Dynamic Stability

Chassis of automotive vehicles are modified for a number of specialist roles for certain typical applications. Modification of standard chassis for such roles result in increase of payload, axle load, and shifting of position of centre of gravity as compared to original vehicle. These changes have effect on performance parameters of vehicle including dynamic stability and handling. The testing of the modified vehicles for parameter of handling and stability was being done so far at VRDE in the classical method i.e. subjective evaluation by opinion of the expert driver. With the dedicated instrumentation procured now evaluation of the handling and stability characteristics of a vehicle modified for the bullet proof vehicle role was carried out objectively, generally following the ISO test procedures. This study clearly revealed the limitation of roll over stability of the modified vehicle, necessitating some design modification to the suspension system and tyre system of the vehicle.