fBrake, a Method to Simulate the Brake Efficiency of Laden Light Passenger Vehicles in PTIs While Measuring the Braking Forces of Their Unladen Configurations
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: vehicle categories, addressing challenges posed by Directive 2014/45/EU. The directive mandates that braking efficiency must be measured relative to the vehicle's maximum mass, which often results in underperformance during inspections due to vehicles typically being unladen. This discrepancy arises because the maximum braking forces are proportional to the vertical load on the wheels, causing empty vehicles to lock their wheels prematurely compared to laden ones. fBrake simulates the braking forces of unladen vehicles to reflect a laden state by employing an optimal brake-force distribution curve that aligns with the vehicle's inherent braking behavior, whether through proportioning valves or through electronic brake distribution systems in anti-lock-braking-system-equipped vehicles. Our methodology, previously applied to heavy vehicles, involved extensive experimentation with a roller brake tester, comparing the actual braking performances of dozens of vehicles to those of their simulated counterparts using fBrake. The results demonstrate that fBrake reliably replicates the braking efficiency of laden vehicles, validating its use as an accurate and effective tool for braking system assessments in periodic inspections, irrespective of the vehicle's load condition during the test. This approach ensures compliance with regulatory requirements while enhancing the reliability and safety of vehicle inspections.
Source: Sensors
DOI: 10.3390/s24206602
Authors: Víctor Romero-Gómez, José Luis San Román
Institutions: Purdue University Northwest, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Language: English
Subfield: Automotive Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,955
OpenAlex ID: W4403462591