A comprehensive exercise for generation of wheel load database and spectrum of different categories of vehicles was carried out. The vehicles have been chosen so as to represent the best possible variation of vehicles all over the country. Dedicated Wheel Force Transducers (WFT) for all corners of all test vehicles have been utilized along with a host of traditional transducers at identified locations of the test vehicles. An exhaustive survey and data acquisition exercise has also been carried out in different geographical regions of India in order to determine the various attributes related to various types of vehicles, type of usage, driving patterns etc. Instrumented test vehicles have been run on identified routes and regions as deciphered from the survey, as well as on proving grounds.
Detailed analysis of the test data from different categories vehicles has been carried out to determine the variation of wheel forces, moments and other vehicle durability parameters. Different correlation methodologies have been utilized and algorithm developed which addresses the relation between vehicle behavior on proving grounds and public roads for each category of the vehicle for creation of accelerated durability test schedule. An attempt has also made to arrive at correlation between different test vehicles of the same category to determine generic relations related to vehicle classification.
This paper also discusses different applications with associated exercises carried out using wheel force sensors for tyre performance evaluation and characterization, wheel and axle rim design, and determination of accelerated durability test schedule for axles. Load cascading, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) studies and handling studies etc. can additionally help vehicle designer for effective optimization of vehicle development process.