Performance-Based Design of an Innovative Truck-Trailer Configuration

Abstract

This paper describes the process whereby one of Australia's major fuel distributors recently gained approval to operate an innovative truck-trailer configuration that was needed to overcome some prescriptive truck size and weight limits and to satisfy the company's new policy on the improvement of fleet safety. Using Australia's newly developed performance-based standards for truck size and weight regulation as the design driver, the process began with field testing of the company's safest existing vehicles, went on to the iterative design of an improved concept by vehicle dynamics simulation, and ended with field testing and calibrated computer simulation of a prototype vehicle for certification. While demonstrating a quantum improvement in dynamic stability, the concept also offers a substantial increase in payload capacity. The process was a valuable learning experience for Australia's truck size and weight regulators and performance-based standards practitioners and is expected to pave the way for continued innovation by this company and others.