STUDIES ON THE BRAKING BEHAVIOUR OF THE VEHICLES USING NUMERICAL MODELS AND COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION

Abstract: The paper aims to evaluate the parameters which characterize the braking process of vehicles, using numerical models and computerized simulation, in the case of various loads and various rolling conditions, so that the drivers can become aware of these elements thus adapting their driving style at the specific driving conditions. The various features and states of the road determine the variation of the adhrerence coefficient, influencing the limit at which skidding appears as well as the behavior of the entire vehicle changes until reaching this limit. All these situations can become causes for incidents if the drivers do not evaluate them correctly. By evaluating the behavior of vehicles in each of the specific situations, the drivers will have additional information which will help them anticipate the limits and the behavior of the vehicles, thus driving within limits that will ensure their safety, their passengers’ safety and the other drivers in traffic. The analytical numerical model developed using MathCad takes into account the geometric parameters of the vehicles and allows the analytical evaluation of the braking parameters of the vehicles taken into account for various driving situations, focusing on obtaining various results on braking parameters variations in relation to the tyre pressure, load on chassis, the state of the road, the type of tyres and the braking system. The computerized simulations have been done on CarSim, aiming to study the behavior of the vehicles during the braking process for various driving situations, thus highlighting the parameters whose variation determines the change in the braking parameters. The results were interpreted graphically, allowing a comparative study. Thus, in the situation when experimental data cannot be obtained, such in the case of vehicles still in design stages, the mathematical model, according to the number of freedom degrees given, can provide data which can characterize the braking qualities of vehicles. Key words : vehicle, braking, numerical model, computerized simulation