Zero-Speed Off-tracking Analysis of Tractor-Semitrailer with Split Fifth Wheel Coupling for 90° and 180° Turning Manoeuvres

Abstract

With the increasing demand for the accessibility of tractor-semitrailers in remote locations, they face the problem of off-tracking, which is the ensuing difference in path radii between the front and rearmost axles of a vehicle as it manoeuvres a turn. One of the passive methods to reduce off-tracking is by implementing Split fifth wheel coupling (SFWC) which has been proposed earlier. In the present work, the tractor-semitrailer with SFWC is subjected to zero-speed off-tracking analysis, wherein the effect of speed is neglected and the results are compared with those of Conventional fifth wheel coupling (CFWC) model. In the current paper, two turning manoeuvres are studied, viz., 90° turn and 180° turn. It is observed that for all the combinations of chosen type of turning manoeuvre and turning radius, the SFWC model noticeably reduces off-tracking when compared to the tractor-semitrailer of similar dimensions with CFWC.