Bump modeling and vehicle vertical dynamics prediction

Abstract

During a journey, motor vehicles are subjected to different types of irregularities in the pavement. Some of these irregularities are introduced for a specific purpose over a stretch of road to slow down the vehicle at certain road points. However, the influence of installed speed bumps reveals certain additional effects which must be deeply analyzed to ensure vehicle and pedestrian safety. In some cases, it has been found that even when driving over transverse bands at a speed below the legal limit, the vehicle is damaged or tires lose grip with the pavement, precluding any kind of braking or turning maneuvers. Such phenomena indicate that either this element is not properly sized or the location is not appropriate, becoming counterproductive for traffic safety. In order to analyze the influence of these irregularities on the different components of the vehicle and its occupants, a simulation program with MatlabTM has been developed. The validated developed tool takes into account several aspects of the vehicle dynamics, bump geometry, and vehicle speed. The proposed tool provides the best possible information to establish a set of guidelines for the proper design and installation of speed bumps in different roads. © 2014 Daniel Garcia-Pozuelo et al.