The Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) has launched "A guide to the application and use of suspensions for multi-combination vehicles."

This Guide is intended to assist people involved in the design, construction and operation of multi-combination vehicles to better understand the:

• basics of multi-combination vehicle dynamic stability
• best-practice multi-combination vehicle design principles
• set-up of suspensions for multi-combination vehicles
• selection of suspension systems appropriate to the application
• dynamic stability of multi-combination vehicles.

Simon Humphries, Deputy Chair of ARTSA handing the first copy to David Rolland of NTC. Committee members Barry Hendry (NTC) and Rob DiCristoforo (ARRB) look on.
(hi-resolution photo, 616 KB)

This publication has arisen from a significant research project concerned with the on-road behaviour of multicombination vehicles fitted with air suspension systems. The project, [OE]Stability and on-road performance of multicombination vehicles with air suspension systems', was instigated by the Remote Areas Group (RAG) to address concerns raised by operators regarding inadequate dynamic stability of certain multi-combination vehicles. Stage One and Two were managed by the WA Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) on behalf of RAG

The third and final stage of the project was the preparation of this Guide, which has been prepared and published by ARTSA with the aid of a grant from the National Transport Commission (NTC). The Guide is available as a free download from the ARTSA website at www.artsa.com.au

The ARTSA guide was prepared by a team headed by Mario Colosimo of BPW Transpec and written by Rob DiCristoforo of ARRB. It had strong input from a committee that included John Dombrose and Rex Middleton of DPI WA as well as Doug McDonald of SFM Engineering and ARTSA members Scott McFarlane (Hendricksons), John Zhang (Marshall Lethlean Industries), Mark Boon (Holland Hitch) and Ian Wright (Ian Wright and Assoc).

David Rolland from the NTC commented "it will be a good tool for designers and operators to better understand the complex dynamics of multi combination vehicles."

This guide adds to other topics tackled by ARTSA, including air suspension, performance based standards and load restraint. All are free as downloads from the website www.artsa.com.au. These guides are part of ARTSA's commitment as the technical resource to the road transport industry. ARTSA also sponsor an annual student prize and have covered topics including wear on small diameter tyres, regenerative braking, and innovative urban rigid vehicles and for 2005 a project on the characteristics of low pressure braking.

For more information, contact:

Rob Perkins,
Executive Director,
Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association Inc.
PO Box 2230,
Hawthorn LPO Vic 3122
Tel 0411 402 832
Email exec@artsa.com.au
Web www.artsa.com.au hide this