Search Results

Trucking fleets are increasingly installing video event recorders in their vehicles. The video event recorder system is usually mounted near the vehicle's rear view mirror, and consists of two cameras: one looking forward and one looking towards the driver. The system also contains accelerometers that record lateral and longitudinal g-loading, and some may record vehicle speed (in mph) based on GPS positions. The unit constantly monitors vehicle acceleration and speed, and also records video. However, the recorded data is only stored when a preset acceleration threshold is met. The primary use of the system is to assist fleets with driver training and education, but the recorded data is also being used as a tool to reconstruct accidents. By integrating the accelerometer data, the vehicle speed and distance traveled during the event can be calculated.

There is a limited amount of data in literature discussing dynamic instability of tractor trailers due to wind speed and wind gusts on slippery surfaces. This paper outlines an analytical approach to assess tractor trailer performance due to these factors. The paper considers short-period wind gusts as well as uplift effect of the wind, frictional properties of the roadway, vehicle speed, jackknife effects, inertial (both translational and rotational) properties of tractor trailer combinations. Correlation between parameters related to semi dynamic instabilities are offered in a graphical format.