Tractor Test Rig
A "Tire Coupled Road Simulator" is an advanced testing system designed for heavy vehicles like trucks or agricultural vehicles. This simulator is used to replicate real-world road conditions and evaluate the performance of these vehicles. It is a critical tool for research, development, and quality control in the automotive industry. Let's elaborate on the key features and components of this simulator:
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Purpose: The primary purpose of the tire coupled road simulator is to subject heavy vehicles to simulated road conditions, including the application of additional axial and lateral forces on the tires. This testing allows manufacturers to assess the durability, stability, and handling characteristics of their vehicles under various road scenarios.
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Axial and Lateral Forces: In addition to vertical forces applied through the tires, this simulator can also generate controlled axial (front-to-back) and lateral (side-to-side) forces on the tires. This is crucial for assessing how well heavy vehicles can maintain stability and control during acceleration, braking, and cornering, which are common scenarios on the road.
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Actuators: The vehicle under test is placed on four vertical actuators, which are responsible for applying the vertical forces to the tires. In this setup, the Series AH actuators with reinforced sideload capacity are used. These actuators can withstand the substantial forces generated during the testing process, ensuring the safety and longevity of the equipment.
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Control System: The simulator employs a control system with two levels of control:
- Inner Loop Control: This control mode operates in position mode, and it manages the precise positioning of the vertical actuators. This is essential for replicating the road profile accurately, ensuring that the tires experience the intended vertical forces that mimic real-world conditions.
- Outer Loop Control: The feedback for outer loop control is based on acceleration measurements at the knuckles. This feedback control helps in maintaining stability and controlling the axial and lateral forces applied to the tires. It ensures that the vehicle remains controllable and safe during testing.
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Adjustability: The simulator allows for the adjustment of the vehicle's wheelbase and track width. Wheelbase refers to the distance between the front and rear axles, and track width is the distance between the left and right tires. The ability to adjust these parameters is crucial for testing different vehicle configurations and sizes. Handwheels and scales on X-Y adjustment units under each actuator make these adjustments straightforward. Electric adjustment units are also available for more precise and automated control.
In summary, the Tire Coupled Road Simulator for heavy vehicles is a sophisticated testing system that replicates real-world road conditions and applies controlled vertical, axial, and lateral forces to the tires. This enables comprehensive testing of a vehicle's durability, stability, and handling performance. The use of reinforced vertical actuators, precise control systems, and adjustable parameters makes this simulator an invaluable tool for the automotive industry, allowing manufacturers to develop safer and more reliable heavy vehicles that can handle diverse road conditions.