102321 TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

LECTURE SET # 2

Road Vehicle Performance

Main Reference: Principles of Highway Engineering and Traffic Analysis, Fred L.
Mannering Scott S. Washburn, 5th edition, 2013, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Outline
1. Resistance
a. Aerodynamic
b. Rolling
c. Grade

2.
3.
4.
5.

Tractive Effort
Acceleration
Braking Force
Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

Main Concepts

Resistance
Tractive effort
Vehicle acceleration
Braking
Stopping distance

Main Concepts

Main Concepts

Resistance
Resistance is defined as the force impeding
vehicle motion
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is this force?

Aerodynamic resistance
Rolling resistance
Grade resistance

F ma Ra Rrl Rg
6

Aerodynamic Resistance Ra
Composed of:
1. Turbulent air flow around vehicle body (85%)
2. Friction of air over vehicle body (12%)
3. Vehicle component resistance, from radiators
and air vents (3%)

Ra

from National Research Council Canada

CD Af V

Aerodynamic Resistance Ra

Aerodynamic Resistance Ra

Aerodynamic Resistance Ra

10

Aerodynamic Resistance Ra

11

Rolling Resistance Rrl

Composed primarily of
1. Resistance from tire deformation (90%)
2. Tire penetration and surface compression ( 4%)
3. Tire slippage and air circulation around wheel ( 6%)
4. Wide range of factors affect total rolling resistance.

12

Rolling Resistance Rrl

13

Rolling Resistance Rrl

14

Example 2.1

Solution

15

Solution (Contd)

16

Grade Resistance Rg
Composed of
Gravitational force acting on the vehicle

Rg W sin g

For small angles, sin g tan g

R g W tan g
tan g G

Rg WG

Rg
g

17

Grade Resistance Rg

18

Example 2.2

Solution

19

Solution (Contd)

20

Available Tractive Effort

21

Available Tractive Effort

The minimum of:
1. Force generated by the engine, Fe
2. Maximum value that is a function of the
vehicles weight distribution and road-tire
interaction, Fmax

Available tractive effort min Fe , Fmax

22

Available Tractive Effort

23

Maximum Tractive Effort

24

Maximum Tractive Effort

25

26

Engine-Generated Tractive Effort

27

Engine-Generated Tractive Effort

28

Engine-Generated Tractive Effort

29

Solution (Contd)

30

31

Engine-Generated Tractive Effort

32

Engine-Generated Tractive Effort

33

Vehicle Acceleration

34

35

Solution (Contd)

36

Solution (Contd)

37

Solution (Contd)

38

Braking Forces
Front axle

Rear axle

Fbf

max

Fbr max

W lr h f rl
L

W l f h f rl
L

See page 28 in textbook for complete derivation.

39

Braking Forces

42

43

44

Solution (Contd)

45

Solution (Contd)

46

47

Theoretical Braking Distance

b V12 V22
S
(2.43)
2 g b f rl sin g

48

Theoretical Braking Distance

Solution (Contd)

49

Practical Braking Distance

It is important to note that Eq. 2.47 is consistent with Eq. 2.43 (the
theoretical stopping distance ignoring aerodynamic resistance).

50

51

52

Stopping Sight Distance (SSD)

Worst-case conditions
Poor driver skills
Low braking efficiency
Wet pavement

Perception-reaction time = 2.5 seconds

Equation
2
1

V
SSD
V1t r
a

2 g G
g

53

54

Solution (Contd)

55

Solution (Contd)

56