Evaluation of tracking ability of multi-combination vehicles.

Multi-combination vehicles (MCV) are road freight vehicles with a prime mover towing two or more trailers. The rear trailers of MCVs are prone to sideways movement during high speed travel due to vehicle and road environmental characteristics. A full scale testing programme was undertaken to measure amongst other parameters the lateral displacement of rear trailers of a range of test MCVs on straight path travel on a test road section. Lateral displacement behaviour was analysed to identify influencing parameters. Preliminary lane width requirements of the test MCVs on the test road were identified and compared with those found in previous research and specified in existing guidelines. Errors and biases were recognised and recommendations made to further understand tracking abilities across the range of MCVs in future research. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E208431.