Figure 15. Lateral Acceleration Time Histories of the Three Units of Control Vehicle CD in the 12-ft Lane Change

Figure 15 is a graph of the lateral acceleration time history for this same maneuver. Markers in the figure indicate the peaks in the lateral acceleration of Trailer 2 and of the tractor. The rearward amplification is the ratio of these two quantities. The matrix is organized by lateral acceleration in gravitational units (-0.4 to 0.3 units) by time in seconds (0 to 16 seconds), and measures the lateral acceleration for control double tractor, trailer 1 and trailer 2. The lateral acceleration for the control double to the target path is tight but does vary for the tractor and each trailer starting at 0 units lateral acceleration between 0 and 5 seconds. At 5 seconds the vehicle type climbs from 0 units to .15, .16, and .24 units, respectively for the tractor and trailers, at 7 seconds. At 7 seven seconds the vehicle type declines to -.1, -.2, and -.3 units, respectively for the tractor and each trailer, at 8 seconds. At 8 seconds the vehicle type climbs to 0, .05, and .1 units, respectively for the tractor and each trailer, at 10 seconds. At 10 seconds the vehicle type declines to 0 units, respectively for the tractor and each trailer, at 12 seconds.

Return to Figure 15