Truck Roll Stability Data Collection and Analysis
The principal objective of this project was to collect and analyze vehicle and highway data that are relevant to the problem of truck rollover crashes, and in particular to the subset of rollover crashes that are caused by the driver error of entering a curve at a speed too great to allow safe completion of the turn. The data are of two sorts--vehicle dynamic performance data, and highway geometry data as revealed by vehicle behavior in normal driving. Vehicle dynamic performance data are relevant because the roll stability of a tractor trailer depends both on inherent physical characteristics of the vehicle and on the weight and distribution of the particular cargo that is being carried. Highway geometric data are relevant because the set of crashes of primary interest to this study are caused by lateral acceleration demand in a curve that exceeds the instantaneous roll stability of the vehicle. An analysis of data quality requires an evaluation of the equipment used to collect the data because the reliability and accuracy of both the equipment and the data could profoundly affect the safety of the driver and other highway users. Therefore, a concomitant objective was an evaluation of the performance of the set of data-collection equipment on the truck and trailer. The objective concerning evaluation of the equipment was accomplished, but the results were not entirely positive. Significant engineering apparently remains to be done before a reliable system can be fielded. Problems were identified with the trailer to tractor fiber optic connector used for this test. In an over-the-road environment, the communication between the trailer instrumentation and the tractor must be dependable. In addition, the computer in the truck must be able to withstand the rigors of the road. The major objective--data collection and analysis--was also accomplished. Using data collected by instruments on the truck, a ''bad-curve'' database can be generated. Using this database, instrumented vehicles would not need roadside beacons. The speed, acceleration, and roll stability of the vehicle could be determined prior to entering a curve, and a warning issued, if appropriate, for curves that have been characterized in the database. Thus, the analysis indicates that the data can be effectively used to provide a timely warning of rollover risk.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 814594
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-2001/116; TRN: US200318%%79
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 2 Jul 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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