The Development of High Productivity Combination Vehicles Using Computer Simulation

The development of larger more productive innovative heavy vehicle combinations for public road operations relies heavily on proving new vehicle concepts to both government and local authorities. In a number of cases simulation modelling has proved to be a useful tool in showing that proposed innovative heavy vehicle concepts are safer and more efficient alternative to conventional equipment. This paper provides examples of the use of AUTOSIM™ in developing custom yaw/roll and yaw/roll/pitch models for investigating the dynamic performance of combination vehicles. Models are described for large innovative road trains which incorporate B-doubles units. Consideration is given to the modeling of the trailing fidelity of these vehicles on non-planar surfaces and examples of model outputs for combination vehicles operating on various three-dimensional features are presented. Examples of the application of dynamic performance standards related to stability and control in a number of performance attributes are considered, and the performance of some innovative vehicle combinations is compared with that of currently-operating conventional trucks.