Driver behaviour near the vehicle handling limits in vehicles with an extended linear handling region

Master thesis (2018)

Authors

R.M.A. Bekkers Mechanical Engineering

Contributors

David Abbink (supervisor 1)
B. Shyrokau (supervisor 1)
S.B. Kolekar (supervisor 1)
T. Melman (supervisor 1)
D.M. Pool (supervisor 2)
A. Vrijdag (supervisor 2)
Faculty
Mechanical Engineering
Copyright: © 2018 Rik Bekkers
Vehicle dynamics Active Rear Steering Torque Vectoring Lateral accleration Human factors driving simulator Experiment Extended linear region Abrupt change in dynamics
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Published Date

06-08-2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Lateral acceleration is a key aspect of the vehicle response perceived by the driver. Assistance systems such as Active Rear Steering (ARS) or Torque Vectoring (TV) are developed to modify the lateral acceleration response such that the vehicle has an improved stability and an extended linear handling region. With this extended linear handling region the vehicle abruptly reaches tyre friction limitations (representing an entry into the vehicle handling limits (VHL)), this can potentially lead to dangerous situations. This thesis aims to quantify driver behaviour when being forced to drive near the VHL, in terms of how often the VHL is entered and what happens after entry. To assess this, a human factors experiment (N = 18) in a fixed base driving simulator was performed. In this experiment three different vehicle configurations were compared: (1) a conventional vehicle (Passive) (2) a vehicle with an extended linear handling region (Active) (3) a vehicle with an extended linear handling region and increased yaw response (Active Sport). In these configurations, the drivers need to drive with a fixed velocity on an oval track with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) switched off. It was expected that a conventional vehicle enters the VHL more often compared to the vehicles with an extended linear handling region. However, when entering the VHL, the vehicle with an extended linear handling region was expected to be more difficult to control due to the abrupt change in vehicle dynamics and corresponding steering feel. The results indicate that the Passive vehicle entered the VHL more frequently compared to the Active and Active Sport configurations. However, when the Active Sport configuration entered the VHL, significantly more road departures and an increased steering reversal rate compared to the Passive configuration resulted. Therefore, it can be concluded drivers enter the VHL less frequently in a vehicle with an extended linear handling region (caused by systems such as ARS or TV). However when the VHL is entered it is more difficult and dangerous for a driver to control compared to a conventional vehicle.