Determination of maneuverability of an articulated bus with self-steering wheels on the trailer axle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31649/2413-4503-2026-23-1-67-77Keywords:
articulated bus, lateral forces, slip angle, articulation angle, maneuverability, turning radius, overall lengthAbstract
The article investigates the features of ensuring the maneuverability of articulated buses of large and extra-large capacity with a total length of up to 22.0 m. In global practice, articulated buses are widely used; however, their operation is associated with a number of structural and operational limitations, particularly related to maneuverability and vehicle stability. In Ukraine, the Traffic Regulations permit a maximum road train length of up to 22 m, which makes it possible to increase passenger capacity. At the same time, this complicates the achievement of regulatory maneuverability parameters in accordance with the requirements of DSTU UN/ECE R 36-03:2002. In this regard, studying the motion parameters of articulated buses and searching for constructive solutions that can ensure the required maneuverability and stability of such vehicles is an important task.
The paper examines the turning characteristics of an articulated bus consisting of a bus and a single-axle trailer. It is shown that when the trailer wheels are non-steered, lateral forces occur during turning, causing lateral slip angles and subsequent sliding of the wheels along the road surface. This may lead to deterioration of the road train stability; therefore, an additional criterion for estimating the maximum allowable trailer wheelbase is proposed, namely the maximum permissible slip angle of its wheels. Based on the developed mathematical model, a comparison of the minimum permissible articulation angle and the turning radius of the trailer with their actual values was performed. The results show that an articulated bus with a non-steered trailer with a wheelbase of 8 m does not satisfy the maneuverability requirements of the regulatory document DSTU UN/ECE R 36-03:2002.
It is shown that when self-steering wheels of the trailer axle are used, the lateral forces acting on the trailer axle approach zero. Under such conditions, the minimum articulation angle and the minimum turning radius of the trailer exceed the permissible values, and the articulated bus satisfies the maneuverability requirements of DSTU UN/ECE R 36-03:2002. However, the issue of ensuring the stability of motion of such a bus remains open and requires further investigation.
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