RR291 - Development of theoretical model for simulating FLT overturn - Rate of steering response - Fixed geometry vehicle
The work builds on work previously undertaken for HSE that looked at the stability of fork lift trucks under steady state cornering conditions. The model has demonstrated the two features that were of particular interest, namely the effect of rear wheel steering on the path taken and the effect of rate of change of steer angle on stability.
- The model shows that rear wheel steer leads to a tightening up of the turning radius of the rear wheel on straightening out from a turn. Depending on the conditions, this may mean that the truck is more likely to roll over when exiting the turn than when continuing the turn under steady state conditions.
- This change of turning radius causes a roll moment to be applied to the truck. The more rapid this change is, the greater the roll moment produced, under certain conditions this can lead to the truck rolling over.
The model is able to rapidly analyse the stability of a wide configuration of trucks under different steering manoeuvres and can give an insight into the mechanisms involved in fork lift truck rollover.
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