Abstract
This paper presents research conducted to determine whether the detailed MBS model presented in the paper is applicable to modelling the snaking phenomenon and to validate the model, including the parameter values, so that it can be used in further research. Experiments and simulations both show – and with good agreement – that the system of a passenger car and a cargo trailer can become unstable at motorway velocities if the trailer is loaded inappropriately. Based on an analysis of the measured data, the impact-damping phenomenon and its influence on snaking damping have been identified. An MBS analysis of the computational-fluid-dynamics-determined aerodynamic influences on the system’s response to an impulse disturbance has shown these influences to be negligible. We have devised the principles and apparatus for measuring the steering-wheel angle, the articulation angle and the lateral force of the trailer’s tow bar. Measuring the last of these makes possible an on-the-fly determination of the trailer’s yaw inertia, one of the most influential parameters with respect to the snaking phenomenon.
Highlights
There are many phrases that other authors have used to describe the “snaking” phenomenon
Some examples are: “vehicle-trailer system high speed instability” and “divergent oscillation that is often associated with high speed and initial impulse” [1] or: “vehicle-trailer instability that is dynamic in nature and may lead to oscillatory response with increasing amplitude” [2], where it is termed “sway”; or “motion that involves the oscillation in yaw of a towed vehicle at high speed which can lead to loss of control of the coupled combination” [3]; and “characteristic oscillatory yawing and rolling motions of car–trailer combinations at moderate to high road speeds” [4] and [5]
The results of the experimental investigation show that a system composed of a passenger car and a cargo trailer can become unstable at legal motorway speeds (80 to 100 km/h in Slovenia and most of Europe) if the trailer is not correctly loaded
Summary
There are many phrases that other authors have used to describe the “snaking” phenomenon. Some examples are: “vehicle-trailer system high speed instability” and “divergent oscillation that is often associated with high speed and initial impulse” [1] or: “vehicle-trailer instability that is dynamic in nature and may lead to oscillatory response with increasing amplitude” [2], where it is termed “sway”; or “motion that involves the oscillation in yaw of a towed vehicle at high speed which can lead to loss of control of the coupled combination” [3]; and “characteristic oscillatory yawing and rolling motions of car–trailer combinations at moderate to high road speeds” [4] and [5] This phenomenon, which we shall call snaking, demonstrates the dynamic instability [6] of a vehicletrailer system. In order to provide the full control of the model, required to use it for the particular problem and further research, a new model had to be developed
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