Roll-Stability Performance of Heavy-Vehicle Suspensions

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">The handling-performance capability of most large commercial vehicles operating on US highways is generally established by the limits of roll stability. Especially for heavy trucks, suspension properties play an important role in establishing the basic roll stability of the vehicle.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">For all highway vehicles, the limit of static roll stability is established first by the ratio of half-track width to center-of-gravity height, and then by the compliant responses of the vehicle, which lead to outward motion of the center of gravity in a turn. Three suspension properties, roll stiffness, roll-center height, and lateral stiffness, influence this motion significantly.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper discusses the basic mechanisms of static roll stability and highlights the role of suspension properties in establishing the roll-stability limit. Facilities and procedures for measuring key suspension properties are described, and data from the measurement of ninty-four heavy-vehicle suspensions are presented.</div>