Data Sets and Friction Estimation for Safety of Heavy Vehicles

Software Engineering Fundamentals 1
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS
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Software Engineering Fundamentals 2
Software Engineering Fundamentals
1. Data sets
Safety of heavy vehicles in challenging conditions is very crucial. One of the best ways
of improving safety of these vehicles is by creating appropriate simulations so as to identify the
right combination of parameters, variables or strategies that can be applied in enhancing safety of
heavy vehicle drivers and other road users. Many studies have found various data sets that can be
used to create simulation models for estimating and improving safety of heavy vehicles. Some of
these data sets include the following:
i) Speed
Speed has a significant impact on safety of heavy vehicles. When heavy vehicles travel at
very high speed, they become vulnerable to high damage in the event of an accident because the
driver cannot control them in case of an emergency. Driving risks increases with increasing
speed standard deviation of the vehicle. In most cases, heavy vehicles tend to reduce their speed
when travelling on comparatively steep longitudinal grades so as to enable the driver have more
control of the vehicle and reduce accident risks (Bassan, 2016). The heavy vehicles should travel
at recommended speed especially when on steep slopes.
ii) Geometric design elements
Safety of heavy vehicles is largely affected by various geometric design elements of the road.
Some of the data sets that should be used include: horizontal curvature (transition curve, super-
elevation, curve radius, sight distance, etc.), vertical alignment/grade (gradients, crest curves, sag
curves and vertical curves), cross slope, etc. In general, various data about the complexity of
road alignment should b considered.

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iii) Shoulder width
When the rod width is small, the driver cannot control the vehicle properly. Small road width
also increases the likelihood of heavy vehicles colliding with other vehicles such as passenger
cars. Therefore lanes should be of adequate width so as to improve safety of heavy vehicles.
iv) Loading
Many studies have shown that the risk of infrastructure damage and traffic accidents increase
when heavy vehicle exceed the legal and acceptable weight limits. When a heavy vehicle is
overloaded, its kinetic energy increases significantly thus increasing impact forces together with
damage to the infrastructure and other vehicles – in the event of an accident (Jacob & Beaumelle,
2010). Different countries have varied maximum permitted weight limits for heavy vehicles.
Therefore various loadings should be tested so as to determine the suitable mass limits that the
heavy vehicle should be allowed to carry without exceeding legal limits.
v) Vehicle characteristics
There are several vehicle characteristics that can be used to improve safety of heavy vehicles
in challenging conditions (Tagesson, 2014). Some of these include: braking system, steering
system, driver assistance systems, anti-roll bars, and other sensing systems, which are essential
in controlling directional stability of heavy vehicles (Tagesson, et al., 2016). These systems are
very crucial in situations such as when cornering or when the vehicle lose control (such as lateral
stability and rollover) (Trigell, et al., 2017). Drivers should understand and use them effectively
to improve safety on the road.
vi) Tunnels