The research addresses the safe negotiation of sharp horizontal curves combined with steep longitudinal grades. Instrumented field measurements were carried out utilizing a FWD C-Class passenger car in both upgrade and downgrade directions of travel. Initially, the vehicle was driven in braking mode on adjacent steep grade tangent sections in order to define the peak friction coefficients. During vehicle’s tractive mode, for various speed values, friction data were measured and correlated against a vehicle dynamics model developed by the authors’ as well as the point mass model, in order to examine the interaction between vehicle dynamics and road geometry in such alignments. The findings regarding vehicle speed prediction revealed that the dynamic model, on both upgrades and downgrades, is accurate. On the other hand, the point mass model although more simple, revealed accuracy, of a smaller degree, however, but only on upgrades. Moreover, certain findings are reported among which the fact that steep upgrades are more critical at impending skid conditions as well as the acceleration impact in vehicle’s safety.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Investigation of vehicle motion on sharp horizontal curves combined with steep longitudinal grades



    Published in:

    Transportation Letters ; 8 , 4 ; 220-228


    Publication date :

    2016-08-07


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    Superelevation Design for Sharp Horizontal Curves on Steep Grades

    Torbic, Darren J. / Donnell, Eric T. / Brennan, Sean N. et al. | Transportation Research Record | 2014


    Locomotives for steep grades

    Nordmann | Engineering Index Backfile | 1924