Roll Stability Performance Simulation of Tractor-Semitrailer Based on ARCSIM - Advanced Research on Computer Education, Simulation and Modeling - page 213

Roll Stability Performance Simulation of
Tractor-Semitrailer Based on ARCSIM
Xiaomei Liu 1 , Jun Li 2 , and Jianrong Zhou 2
1 Jiangxi Changyun Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, Nanchang 330001, China
2 East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China
[e-mail]
Abstract. The simulation of vehicle performance will help to improve the
design quality and shorten product development cycle. In this paper, ARCSIM
software is employed to simulate the roll stability performance of the tractor-
semitrailer. To analysis, “lane-changing” condition and “steering and braking”
condition are selected, by means of ARCSIM, the critical speed when
overturning and other results can be obtained. It will provide theoretical guides
to decide better design parameters of the vehicle.
Keywords: tractor-semitrailer, roll stability, simulation.
1 Introduction
General layout of vehicle, vehicle design parameters and matching relationship
between them has a critical influence on performances. Simulation analysis of vehicle
performance will contribute to optimize vehicle design and match parameters
reasonably. So the design quality can be enhanced and the development cycle can be
shortened [1].
Trailer truck, as one way of road freight transport, has been in extensive use.
Especially in recent years, in order to improve transport efficiency and capacity of
roads, trailer truck plays an important role in the carriage of goods. At present, the
tractor-semitrailers occupy the high scale in the number of trailer trucks in China.
With the number of tractor-semitrailers increasing, the safety of their running
becomes more and more important. In order to enhance the design quality of the
tractor-semitrailer and protect the vehicle running safety, performance simulation for
them has great practical significance [2].
2 Simulation Software and Simulation Object
ARCSIM is demonstration software from the Automotive Research Center (ARC),
which is a center of excellence funded by The U.S. Army TARDEC. The ARC is
headquartered at The University of Michigan.
ARCSIM is an easy-to-use integrated set of computer tools for simulating and
analyzing the braking and handling behavior of a six-axle tractor-trailer combination.