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South African heavy vehicles are currently designed according to prescriptive standards designed and enforced by the National Department of Transport (DoT); these standards are regulated in terms of mass, dimensions and vehicle configuration. However, the current prescriptive standards leave little room for innovation in terms of heavy vehicle design. Performance Based Standards, or PBS, is a new Australian based innovative alternative to the current heavy vehicle prescriptive standards, mass, dimensions and vehicle configuration. PBS seeks to align actual vehicle performance efficiencies, productivity and safety objectives as well as road and bridge infrastructure to the current road network. Vehicle performance measures are based on engineering and science, supporting superior safety and known road and bridge wear performance criteria. PBS produces “a result orientated approach” to improved heavy vehicle operations and safety rather than a „one size fits all approach‟ utilised by the current prescriptive legislation. Currently, dynamic vehicle simulations are not carried out on South African manufactured vehicle combinations. Evidence exists that this has, in some cases, resulted in safety compromises. The computer dynamic vehicle simulation technology developed and validated could be employed for the credible assessments of the vehicle design concepts/prototypes for compliance with PBS. This service, which includes vehicle performance simulation and testing, development of high productivity vehicle concepts, assessment and development of risk management strategies, advice on safety and productivity issues, would have a substantial commercialisation potential for the implementation in the larger transport industry in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fuldlment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering Johannesburg, 1991 / With increasing competition in the commercial vehicle industry, future vehicle designs need to be able to carry greater payloads within the bounds of existing legislation. Increasing the payload efficiency of transport vehicles involves two main areas: a. Optomizing the size and mass distribution of the vehicle for the purpose intended. b. Keeping the tare mass as low as possible through efficient design and the use of lighter and stronger materials. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / MT2017