Traction performance of transit and paratransit vehicles during the winter season is an important factor in public transportation system operations. Vehicle traction forces are significantly reduced when travellling on snowy or icy surfaces, specifically during stopping, starting, concerning, and hill climbing. Reduced traction forces result in increased stopping distances and less controllabilty when a vehicle stops in an emergency situation. In this study, the traction performance of transit and paratransit vehicles was evaluated on snowy and icy surfaces. Field tests were conducted in Fairbanks, Alaska, using three types of vehicles (1) a 41-passenger transit bus; (2) a 32-passenger transit bus, and (3) a 9-passenger paratransit vehicle. Each vehicle was tested for different combinations of tire types that included highway tires, snow tires, studded-siped tires, highway 3-rib tires, all-season tires, and snow siped tires. Winter traction performance was evaluated using a number of tests that included stopping distance, starting traction, hill-climbing, cornering, and controllability. Results indicate that winter traction performance is significantly influenced by vehicle type, tire combination used, and the road surface condition (compacted snow or ice) research findings and recommendations for appropriate tire combinations that are most suitable for winter traction are presented.
Traction Performance of Transit and Paratransit Vehicles during Winter Season
1998
74 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Traction Performance of Transit and Paratransit Vehicles in Winter
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