The Steering Characteristics of Multiple Axle Bogie Systems

SUMMARY

Legislation limits the load that may be transferred to the roadway by the axies of a commercial vehicle and this has resulted in the development of multi axle bogies for both the tractor and trailer units of articulated vehicles and at the rear of rigid vehicles, some of these bogies contain self steering or articulation steered axles

Experience shows that the tyre wear characteristics of multi axle bogies may be unsatisfactory. The paper analyses the role of such bogies in the context of vehicle handling and shows how the lateral tyre forces vary between the axles. An hypotheses relating the forces in a steady state turn to wear is given. The analysis may also be applied to the general case of vehicle handling.