Random Response of Articulated Road Vehicles

Abstract

<p>A method for determining and analyzing the linear dynamic response of the complex articulated vehicle structures to road surface undulations, represented as stationary Gaussian random excitations, is formulated. The procedure is used to estimate the influence of various parameters on the dynamic behviour of the articulated vehicle. In particular; the influence of vehicle suspension systems, load patterns, speed, and road characteristics on the ride comfort and ride safety is evaluated.</p> <p>An analytical method based on the equivalent linearization technique is developed in order to study the effect of the system nonlinearities on the ride behaviour of the articulated vehicle. The nonlinearties include dry friction, bump stops and wheel hop. The vehicle is treated as a discrete, nonlinear, time-variant, multi-degree-of-freedom dynamic system subjected to random road irregularities.</p> <p>An extensive review of the available literature is presented as background to the present work. The review provides details of various proposed methods of modelling the road surface undulations, and vehicle components as well as methods of performing the analysis necessary to obtain the vehicle vibrational response and assessing the ride quality.</p>