The course contains the following chapters: basic properties of the pneumatic-tired vehicle: overview and definitions; modelling the truck tire; mechanical properties of truck tires; the mechanical and kinematic properties of heavy vehicle suspensions; analysis and modelling of suspension systems; truck steering systems: geometry, mechanical properties and models; mechanics of curvilinear travel at zero speed; brakes and brake actuation systems; thermal aspects of brakes and brake system modelling; properties of brake-system components designed to improve wheels-unlocked stopping performance; truck frames; truck simulations: their development and use as engineering tools; the longitudinal acceleration performance of heavy trucks; methods of modelling the truck driver; heavy truck ride; turning of single and multi-unit trucks: findings derivable from a linear analysis; the cornering response of commercial vehicles in the nonlinear regime; braking capabilities of heavy-duty trucks: downhill speed control and stopping performance; mechanics of the rollover process; influence of slosh and shifting loads on turning and rollover behaviour; truck parameter measurement.
Abstract