Study of Vehicle Driving Characteristics and Safety on Different Asphalt Pavements Based on CarSim-MATLAB Co-simulation

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore the driving characteristics and safety of vehicle when driving on different pavements. Asphalt concrete (AC), open-graded friction course (OGFC) and stone mastic asphalt (SMA) samples are scanned by X-ray CT scanner and the macrotexture data of road surfaces is extracted and disposed by Geomagic Studio and MATLAB. Based on the tire adhesion theory and the Ergun friction coefficient prediction formula, the tire-pavement contact system was simulated by using MATLAB and CarSim. Then the vehicle-tire-pavement coupling system is established by CarSim-MATLAB co-simulation to study the braking and steering characteristics of vehicle on different pavements. The results indicate that on asphalt concrete pavement, the braking distance of vehicle with antilock braking system is 74.9m, which is longer than on open-graded friction course pavement (61.6m) and stone mastic asphalt pavement (64.9m). For the vehicle without anti-lock braking system, the braking distance on the asphalt concrete pavement is 110.0m, on open-graded friction course pavement it is 85.9m and on stone mastic asphalt pavement it is 91.6m. Steering in 120km/h on the three types of pavements and circle curve whose radius is 400m and superelevation is 6%, the vehicle presents instability and potential danger. When the velocity of vehicle reaches 126km/h, the asphalt concrete pavement will be not able to guarantee the driving security according to the simulation result. And the vehicle driving on stone mastic asphalt pavement will be in danger when the longitudinal speed is controlled in 134km/h.