Maneuverability and movement stability of the bus train based on three “Bohdan” buses

Abstract

The paper focuses on selected issues in modern public transport systems, which are increasingly seen as an important means of enhancing safe populations mobility, especially in urban areas suffering from growing traffic congestion. This is facilitated by the introduction of a new bus traffic system "Bus Rapid Transport" (BRT), which is the result of the bus public transport network development. The rolling stock used in the BRT system is of two types: the first one is a classic, two-link or three-link metrobus with an engine that runs on both diesel and gas fuel, as well as a hybrid electro-gas engine. These options are inherent to articulated buses, 18 and 24 meters in length. The second type is a bus train consisting of a bus and one or two trailers, or one or two buses. Therefore, the purpose of the studies is the possibility of creating a bus train based on three “Bohdan” buses. Special attention is paid to the maneuverability and movement stability, taking into account specific bus characteristics in large cities. For this purpose, the bus train consisting of three similar buses mathematical model was improved, with which the maneuverability and movement stability are determined. It was established that during the road train circular movement and the first bus steering wheels turning at the place where trailer links maximum displacement is achieved, the overall traffic lane width will be 6.7 m, which is much less than the permissible one, that is, the maneuverability of a bus train based on three “Bohdan” buses is not a limiting factor for its operation on urban routes.