A Digital Computer Method for the Prediction of the Directional Response of Trucks and Tractor-Trailers

It has long been recognized by vehicle dynamicists that tire properties are of utmost importance in the determination of vehicle handling. Trucks and tractor-trailers are no exception; thus, to provide a reasonable simulation of commercial vehicle handling, careful attention must be paid to the representation of the mechanics of the tire-road interface. In this paper, a newly developed simulation of commercial vehicles is discussed, with special consideration given to the modeling of the tire-road interface. Comparisons are also presented which show a high degree of correlation between commercial vehicle test data and simulation results for steady turn and braking-in-a-turn maneuvers.