This paper investigates the influence of different loading conditions on the driving behaviour of two trucks with a vehicle gross weight of about 14 tons. The study uses a number of test procedures that have already been developed for the assessment of passenger car and passenger car-trailer combination handling characteristics. The aim is to objectively evaluate the handling and braking characteristics of both trucks (heavy commercial vehicles). The test results demonstrate that even a brake balance that complies to the different regulations of type approval can cause a loss of driving stability, especially when braking in a turn. The study shows that a number of objective test procedures used can basically applied to heavy commercial vehicles. In doing so, it has to be considered that there is a need for adapting either the initial driving conditions or the evaluation criteria accordingly.
Samenvatting