A method to assess road damaging potential of heavy vehicles is described. The method involves a new technique consisting of vehicle parameter estimation in conjunction with a computerised vehicle model. A quarter car rig fitted with a leaf spring suspension is used to investigate this method. Step inputs are used to excite the rig, and sensors measure the response. These responses are used as inputs to an algorithm that generates a set of estimated vehicle parameters. The accuracy of the method is determined by calculating the tyre force history of the model travelling over a predeter mined road profile in a computer simulation. This time history is compared to the measured tyre force when the road profile is used to excite the test rig. A linear technique using the convolution algorithm is also assessed. (A)
Abstract