Integrated chassis control for a three-axle electric bus with distributed driving motors and active rear steering system

This paper describes an integrated chassis control framework for a novel three-axle electric bus with active rear steering (ARS) axle and four motors at the middle and rear wheels. The proposed integrated framework consists of four parts: (1) an active speed limiting controller is designed for anti-body slip control and rollover prevention; (2) an ARS controller is designed for coordinating the tyre wear between the driving wheels; (3) an inter-axle torque distribution controller is designed for optimal torque distribution between the axles, considering anti-wheel slip and battery power limitations and (4) a data acquisition and estimation module for collecting the measured and estimated vehicle states. To verify the performances, a simulation platform is established in Trucksim software combined with Simulink. Three test cases are particularly designed to show the performances. The proposed algorithm is compared with a simple even control algorithm. The test results show satisfactory lateral stability and rollover prevention performances under severe steering conditions. The desired tyre wear coordinating performance is also realised, and the wheel slip ratios are restricted within stable region during intensive driving and emergency braking with complicated road conditions.     

Effect of vertical and lateral coupling between tyre and road on vehicle rollover

The vehicle stability involves many aspects, such as the anti-rollover stability in extreme steering operations and the vehicle lateral stability in normal steering operations. The relationships between vehicle stabilities in extreme and normal circumstances obtain less attention according to the present research works. In this paper, the coupling interactions between vehicle anti-rollover and lateral stability, as well as the effect of road excitation, are taken into account on the vehicle rollover analysis. The results in this paper indicate that some parameters influence the different vehicle stabilities diversely or even contradictorily. And it has been found that there are contradictions between the vehicle rollover mitigation performance and the lateral stability. The direct cause for the contradiction is the lateral coupling between tyres and road. Tyres with high adhesion capacity imply that the vehicle possesses a high performance ability to keep driving direction, whereas the rollover risk of this vehicle increases due to the greater lateral force that tyres can provide. Furthermore, these contradictions are intensified indirectly by the vertical coupling between tyres and road. The excitation from road not only deteriorates the tyres’ adhesive condition, but also has a considerable effect on the rollover in some cases.     

Contour line of load transfer ratio for vehicle rollover prediction

For vehicle rollover control systems, an accurate and predictive rollover index is necessary for a precise rollover threat detection and rollover prevention. In this paper, the contour line of load transfer ratio (CL-LTR) and the CL-LTR-based vehicle rollover index (CLRI) are proposed, describing LTR threshold and LTR change rate precisely, providing an accurate prediction of vehicle rollover threat. In detail, the CL-LTR is proposed via the roll dynamics phase plane analysis, and its analytical solution of one-degree-of-freedom vehicle roll model and extension for full vehicle are derived. Moreover, the predictive CLRI is proposed and evaluated via vehicle dynamics study. The results demonstrate that vehicle rollover threat is predicted accurately based on the CLRI, which shows benefits for the vehicle rollover prediction and stability control.     

重型汽车低附着路面制动稳定性的仿真研究

文章利用trucksim重型汽车动力学仿真软件,对六轮双轴重型汽车在低附着路面左右车轮附着系数不一致情况下进行紧急制动的行驶工况进行了仿真研究。研究结果表明在低附着路面进行紧急制动时,对制动轮进行制动压力控制,有ABS控制的重型汽车比没有ABS控制的重型汽车具有更好地行驶稳定性。但在低附着路面上,有ABS控制的重型汽车比没有ABS控制的重型汽车的制动距离增加了很多,这对重型汽车的行车安全性非常不利。     

The effect of worn profile on wear progress of rail vehicle steel wheels over curved tracks

Dynamic performance, safety and maintenance costs of railway vehicles strongly depend on wheelset dynamics and particularly on the design of wheelset profile. This paper considers the effect of worn wheel profile on vehicle dynamics and the trend of wear in the wheels as a result of the vehicle movements. ADAMS/RAIL is used to build a multi-body system model of the vehicle. The track model is also configured as an elastic body. Measured new and worn wheel profiles are used to provide boundary conditions for the wheel/rail contacts. The fleet velocity profile taken during its normal braking is also used for the simulation. Wear numbers are calculated for different sets of wheels and the results compared with each other. Outcome of this research can be used for modifying dynamic performance of the vehicle, improving its suspension elements and increasing ride quality. It can also be further processed to reach to a modified wheel profile suitable for the fleet/track combination and for improved maintenance of the wheels. A major advantage of the computer models in this paper is the insertion of the wheel surface properties into the boundary conditions for dynamic modelling of the fleet. This is performed by regularly measuring the worn wheel profiles during their service life and by the calculation of the wear rate for individual wheels.     

Vehicle lift-off modelling and a new rollover detection criterion

The modelling and development of a general criterion for the prediction of rollover threshold is the main purpose of this work. Vehicle dynamics models after the wheels lift-off and when the vehicle moves on the two wheels are derived and the governing equations are used to develop the rollover threshold. These models include the properties of the suspension and steering systems. In order to study the stability of motion, the steady-state solutions of the equations of motion are carried out. Based on the stability analyses, a new relation is obtained for the rollover threshold in terms of measurable response parameters. The presented criterion predicts the best time for the prevention of the vehicle rollover by applying a correcting moment. It is shown that the introduced threshold of vehicle rollover is a proper state of vehicle motion that is best for stabilising the vehicle with a low energy requirement.     

反力式制动试验台加载能力与检验结果真实性的分析

利用反力式制动试验台对前、后轮的加载能力进行了分析，并得出如下结论：（1）因存在系统的微观自激振动，致使滚筒对车轮的加载能力在一定范围内不停地波动；（2）加载能力一般不低于轴荷的60％，对于后轮行车制动力的检验，试验台加载能力的下限值可能低于60％；（3）为使后轮驻车制动力检验的加载能力不低于整车重力的20％，试验台应设置限制车辆后移的辅助设施，以提高驻车制动力的加载能力。     

Rollover risk prediction of heavy vehicles by reliability index and empirical modelling

This paper focuses on a combination of a reliability-based approach and an empirical modelling approach for rollover risk assessment of heavy vehicles. A reliability-based warning system is developed to alert the driver to a potential rollover before entering into a bend. The idea behind the proposed methodology is to estimate the rollover risk by the probability that the vehicle load transfer ratio (LTR) exceeds a critical threshold. Accordingly, a so-called reliability index may be used as a measure to assess the vehicle safe functioning. In the reliability method, computing the maximum of LTR requires to predict the vehicle dynamics over the bend which can be in some cases an intractable problem or time-consuming. With the aim of improving the reliability computation time, an empirical model is developed to substitute the vehicle dynamics and rollover models. This is done by using the SVM (Support Vector Machines) algorithm. The preliminary obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Design of a rollover index-based vehicle stability control scheme

This paper presents a rollover index (RI)-based vehicle stability control (VSC) scheme. A rollover index, which indicates an impending rollover, is developed by a roll dynamics phase plane analysis. A model-based roll estimator is designed to estimate the roll angle and roll rate of the vehicle body with lateral acceleration, yaw rate, steering angle and vehicle velocity measurements. The rollover index is computed using an estimated roll angle, estimated roll rate, measured lateral acceleration and time-to-wheel lift. A differential braking control law is designed using a direct yaw control method. The VSC threshold is determined from the rollover index. The effectiveness of the RI, the performance of the estimator and the control scheme are investigated via simulations using a validated vehicle simulator. It is shown that the proposed RI can be a good measure of the danger of rollover and the proposed RI-based VSC scheme can reduce the risk of a rollover.     

基于MPC的独立驱动电动汽车稳定性集成控制

针对独立驱动电动汽车在高附着系数路面高速急转时易发生侧翻事故,在低附着系数路面急转易发生侧滑失稳事故,且单一控制器在不同附着系数路面适应性较差等问题,根据独立驱动电动汽车特点设计了基于分层式结构的稳定性集成控制器。建立了整车动力学模型,并进行了车辆状态参数估计;设计了稳定性集成控制器的控制策略,对车辆的侧倾、横向稳定性状态判定条件和协调策略的制定进行了研究,分别设计了侧倾稳定性控制器和横向稳定性控制器;设置了路面附着系数0.9到0.2的对接路面仿真工况,并在此工况下对所设计的控制器的控制性能进行了仿真测试。结果表明,所设计的稳定性集成控制器相比于单一控制器具有更好的适应性,可有效降低车辆高速行驶过程中的横向载荷转移系数、质心侧偏角等状态量,提高车辆行驶的稳定性和安全性。     

Modeling to Predict Rollover Threat of Tractor-Semitrailers

Summary A predictive model to determine a rollover threat index associated with tractor-semitrailers is proposed. The purpose of this model is to predict the rollover threat sufficiently in advance of the actual event so as to enable the driver to react accordingly. The predictive model is established using simple roll-plane models of the vehicle sprung and unsprung masses in conjunction with online vehicle parameter identification. Using this predictive model, the predicted Load Transfer Ratio (LTR) for the trailer axle can be determined as the rollover threat index. The proposed predictive model and the associated parameter-identification algorithm are verified using a 12-degree-of-freedom vehicle model. It is shown that the identified parameter values are close to the actual ones used in detailed simulation study. Similarly it is shown that the predicted values of the LTR are close to the simulated ones, and hence the proposed approach is potentially suitable as the basis for application in rollover threat assessment.     

汽车高速化给维修业带来的新要求

随着汽车工业的发展和高速公路的普及，汽车的速度越来越来高，汽车在前轮定位，制动系以及轮胎等方面也发生了相应的变化，例如车轮外倾角由正值变为负值，前轮前束出现负值，前轮制动力大于后轮制动力，前轮主销内倾角增大等，这些变化在维修时应特别注意。     

A new flatness-based control of lateral vehicle dynamics

This paper presents a new concept for vehicle dynamics control (VDC). The control of the longitudinal vehicle dynamics is not discussed, since we are assuming that it is much slower and weakly coupled to the lateral and yawing dynamics. The actuators are considered to be the traction and the braking torques of the individual wheels and only the standard sensors of the common VDC system are used. A modular interface to the subordinate wheel control system is provided by choosing the yaw torque as a fictitious control input. The VDC system is designed by means of a two degrees-of-freedom control scheme. It comprises a flatness-based feedforward part and a stabilising feedback part. The reference trajectory generation is introduced for the flat output which is given by the lateral velocity of the vehicle. Thus an advantageous kind of body side-slip angle control is provided with the standard VDC system hardware. Extensive simulation studies show excellent performance of the designed control concept.     

Vehicle dynamic estimation with road bank angle consideration for rollover detection: theoretical and experimental studies

This article describes a method of vehicle dynamics estimation for impending rollover detection. This method is evaluated via a professional vehicle dynamics software and then through experimental results using a real test vehicle equipped with an inertial measurement unit. The vehicle dynamic states are estimated in the presence of the road bank angle (as a disturbance in the vehicle model) using a robust observer. The estimated roll angle and roll rate are used to compute the rollover index which is based on the prediction of the lateral load transfer. In order to anticipate the rollover detection, a new method is proposed in order to compute the time-to-rollover using the load transfer ratio. The used nonlinear model is deduced from the vehicle lateral dynamics and is represented by a Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy model. This representation is used in order to take into account the nonlinearities of lateral cornering forces. The proposed TS observer is designed with unmeasurable premise variables in order to consider the non-availability of the slip angles measurement. Simulation results show that the proposed observer and rollover detection method exhibit good efficiency.     

A combined-slip predictive control of vehicle stability with experimental verification

In this paper, a model predictive vehicle stability controller is designed based on a combined-slip LuGre tyre model. Variations in the lateral tyre forces due to changes in tyre slip ratios are considered in the prediction model of the controller. It is observed that the proposed combined-slip controller takes advantage of the more accurate tyre model and can adjust tyre slip ratios based on lateral forces of the front axle. This results in an interesting closed-loop response that challenges the notion of braking only the wheels on one side of the vehicle in differential braking. The performance of the proposed controller is evaluated in software simulations and is compared to a similar pure-slip controller. Furthermore, experimental tests are conducted on a rear-wheel drive electric Chevrolet Equinox equipped with differential brakes to evaluate the closed-loop response of the model predictive control controller.     

汽车列车电控制动系统制动力分配的控制算法

为汽车列车提出了一种基于滑移率的电控制动系统制动力分配算法,即根据不同情况,使牵引车后轮和半挂车车轮的目标滑移率随牵引车前轮滑移率而变化.运用Matlab/Simulink和Trucksim软件进行列车在高附着和低附着路面上行驶的联合仿真,结果表明该算法能缩短汽车列车的制动距离,提高了制动稳定性.     

基于车辆稳定性的改扩建高速公路横坡方案安全性评价研究

针对改扩建高速公路单侧加宽方案老路利用时可能存在的行车稳定性问题,应用基于车辆动力学的建模仿真方法,采用联合仿真技术,在Carsim/Trucksim仿真软件中得到车辆在横坡组合路段行驶过程中车轮的垂直载荷与车辆侧向加速度;在Simulink中计算车辆的横向载荷转移率和侧向加速度;通过上述指标分析车辆横向侧翻和侧滑稳定性,判断车辆在改扩建公路横坡组合路段上的行驶稳定性;联合仿真结果表明,车辆在横向坡度为2%和1.5%、换道路长为120 m和80 m的横坡组合路段上行驶均具有良好的横向稳定性;该方法可用于其他道路和驾驶行为的车辆稳定性分析.      

汽车侧翻和滚翻事故建模研究

分析汽车在侧翻和滚翻过程中的受力状态和轮胎或车身与路面的相互作用方式,建立汽车侧翻和滚翻的运动学和动力学模型,揭示汽车临界侧翻碰撞力与持续作用时间等参数的关系,推导侧翻车辆侧向速度的范围,确定滚筒模型中关键参数的选取方法。事故案例表明模型在实际应用中效果良好、定量准确、直观性强。     

Effect of curved track support failure on vehicle derailment

In order to investigate the effect of curved track support failure on railway vehicle derailment, a coupled vehicle–track dynamic model is put forward. In the model, the vehicle and the structure under rails are, respectively, modelled as a multi-body system, and the rail is modelled with a Timoshenko beam rested on the discrete sleepers. The lateral, vertical, and torsional deformations of the beam are taken into account. The model also considers the effect of the discrete support by sleepers on the coupling dynamics of the vehicle and track. The sleepers are assumed to move backward at a constant speed to simulate the vehicle running along the track at the same speed. In the calculation of the coupled vehicle and track dynamics, the normal forces of the wheels/rails are calculated using the Hertzian contact theory and their creep forces are determined with the nonlinear creep theory by Shen et al [Z.Y. Shen, J.K. Hedrick, and J.A. Elkins, A comparison of alternative creep-force models for rail vehicle dynamic analysis, Proceedings of the 8th IAVSD Symposium, Cambridge, MA, 1984, pp. 591–605]. The motion equations of the vehicle/track are solved by means of an explicit integration method. The failure of the components of the curved track is simulated by changing the track stiffness and damping along the track. The cases where zero to six supports of the curved rails fail are considered. The transient derailment coefficients are calculated. They are, respectively, the ratio of the wheel/rail lateral force to the vertical force and the wheel load reduction. The contact points of the wheels/rails are in detail analysed and used to evaluate the risk of the vehicle derailment. Also, the present work investigates the effect of friction coefficient, axle load and vehicle speed on the derailments under the condition of track failure. The numerical results obtained indicate that the failure of track supports has a great influence on the whole vehicle running safety.     

一种汽车ESP仿真模型的研究

基于Pacejka的"魔术公式"轮胎模型,建立了包括汽车纵向与横向移动、横摆、侧倾和4个车轮的转动的8自由度动力学模型.设计了由汽车仿真模型和驱动系统、四通道制动系统、制动踏板、转向盘与油门踏板等实物以及控制器(ESP)等部分组成的半实物仿真平台.以侧向加速度与横摆角速度为仿真控制变量对模型进行仿真测试.仿真与实车测试数据相当接近,为ESP的研究提供了有效的模型.