Volvo trucks are involved in a project with vehicle combinations longer than 25.25 meters and/or with a weight of more than 64 tons. Those combinations are called high capacity transport (HCT). Some of the vehicle combinations are now driven with exemptions for the coupling equipment. The exemption is needed because according to a standard the theoretical transmitted forces between the dolly and the truck exceed the value that the coupling components have been certified for. The theoretical transmitted forces are called performance indexes. This limits the development but the exception could be avoided by using a hinged drawbar on the dolly.  This thesis aims to investigate what needs to be done in order to introduce dolly with hinged drawbar in longer and heavier vehicle combinations. A literature study and interviews were conducted to find problems that could be expected when using hinged drawbar on dolly and to investigate how the performance indexes for a specific vehicle combination should be calculated. Thereafter a dolly was put together through a product development process. Then concepts to solve a problem that was noticed through the literature study were developed. The concepts were sketched, evaluated in a matrix and thereafter the winning concept was modelled in detail in computer aided design (CAD).   According to the traffic definition in Sweden a dolly with hinged drawbar is violating the law. It defines a dolly as a module with rigid drawbar. On the other hand, the European Union defining a dolly as a trailer with fifth- wheel made to convert a semi-trailer into a full trailer. They don’t mention anything that contradicts to the usage of hinged drawbar. So the Swedish definition of a dolly needs to be challenged.   Simulations have shown that the braking performance will be worse when using a dolly with hinged drawbar compared to using a dolly with rigid drawbar. Therefore concepts to improve the braking performance of the dolly have been developed. The concept was to look the fifthwheel from pivoting around a horizontal axle perpendicular to the driving direction. By doing so the dolly and semi-trailer will become more like a full trailer and that would better the braking performance.  Through interviews and literature study it was noticed that the high performance indexes were calculated in an incorrect way. The highest forces are generated through interaction forces which are only affected by the vehicles closest to the coupling components. Therefore a calculation model need to be modified for this. Three calculation models were tested on the vehicle-combination. Two of these generated performance indexes that were reasonable. The calculation models were ISO-combination 3 and a model developed by Sweatman (1980). These two calculation models are modified for vehicle combinations that includes three vehicles. / Volvo lastvagnar ingår i ett forskningsprojekt med lastbilskombinationer som är längre än 25,25  meter och/eller väger mer än 64 ton. Ett sådant fordon kallas högkapacitetstransport (HCT). Idag körs vissa av dessa fordon med dispenser för kopplingsutrustningen. Detta då de teoretiska överförda krafterna mellan lastbil och dolly enligt en standard får värden som är högre än vad kopplingsutrustningen är certifierad med. De teoretiska överförda krafterna benämns som prestandaindex. Denna dispens skulle kunna undvikas genom att använda en ledad dragstång på dollyn.  Detta examensarbete syftar till att undersöka vad som behöver göras för att introducera dolly med ledad dragstång i längre och tyngre fordonskombinationer. En litteraturundersökning samt intervjuer genomfördes för att upptäcka problem som kan uppstå vid användande av dolly med ledad dragstång. Även en undersökning gällande hur prestandaindex ska beräknas på rätt sätt genomfördes.  Därefter konstruerades en dolly genom en produktutvecklingsprocess. Koncept för att lösa ett problem som noterades under litteraturundersökningen utvecklades. Koncepten skissades och blev sedan utvärderade genom en matris. Det vinnande konceptet konstruerades i CAD.   Från litteraturstudien visade det sig att det finns en motstridighet i den svenska definitionen gällande användandet av ledad dragstång på dolly. I Sverige definieras dolly som en kärra. En kärra definieras som en modul med stel dragstång. Däremot definierar EU dolly som en trailer som konverterar en semi-trailer till en full trailer. Där nämns ingenting som kan stoppa användandet av dolly med ledad dragstång. Därför borde den svenska definitionen utmanas.   En dolly med ledad dragstång förväntas ha sämre bromsprestanda än en vanlig dolly. Koncept utvecklades för att förbättra bromsprestandan på dollyn. Konceptet som vann var att låsa vändskivan från att vridas runt en horisontell axel vinkelrätt till åkriktningen. På så viss blir kombinationen dolly, semi-trailer mer som en full trailer vilket skulle innebära en bättre bromsprestanda.  Från intervjuer med kunniga personer och från litteraturstudien framkom det att de höga prestanda indexen var felaktigt beräknade. Det blev även känt att de största krafterna genereras genom interaktionskrafter som endast påverkas av de närmaste fordonens vikt. Tre olika beräkningsmodeller testades där två utav dem gav värden som kan anses vara rimliga. Beräkningsmodellerna var ISO-kombination 3 och en modell utvecklad av Sweatman (1980). Dessa två är anpassad för kombinationer som innehåller 3 fordon.

The ability of vehicles to traverse soft soils is an important aspect of their performance. The geological, climate and topography diversity originated, in Rio Grande do Sul, extensive areas of hydromorphic clay soils, as example, Planssoils and Gleissoils. When saturated of water, these soft soils present low loads support, difficult agricultural machinery work and limit the traverse of military wheeled vehicles. The aim of this study was to determine the limit of soil conditions for trafficability of military 6 x 6 wheeled trucks (Cascavel and Urutu), determine the ground pressure and predict the mobility condition from soil cone index (SCI) and vehicle characteristics. This study also proposed to evaluate the performance of a four wheel drive tractor in drawbar pull test and trafficability performance, to correlate the reduced tire inflation pressure and vehicle loading effect on slipping, drawbar pull, fuel consumption and mobility under different soil moisture conditions. It was found that the Cascavel military truck had a minimal ground pressure of 357 kPa and it needed SCI of 402 kPa in the critical layer for a single pass. The Urutu truck had a ground pressure of 401 kPa and required at least 431 kPa in SCI for one-way pass. The NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) and Mean Maximum Pressure (MPP) predicting model underestimate the soil cone index required for these military vehicles to traverse soft-soils, however, MMP was more appropriate to predict the correct SIC for the tested vehicles. For the tractor experiment it was found that tire inflation pressure changed the ground pressure and the vehicle loading didn t change the ground surface pressure. The greatest drawbar pull were obtained at low tractor speed, reduced inflation pressure and high loading level, operating on hard ground. The lowest specific fuel consumption was obtained on hard ground, empty weight, low tire pressure and operating in high speed gear. The increase of soil moisture decreased the dynamic traction coefficient from 0.57 to 0.31 and the traction efficiency decrease from 50 to 37%. Reduced inflation tire pressure had positive effects on tractor mobility in waterlogged soils, reducing slipping and increasing traverse speed. Using height loading level had negative effect on wet soils because it require more engine power and increase the fuel consumption. / A habilidade de um veículo se locomover em solos com baixa capacidade de carga é um aspecto importante em seu desempenho. A diversidade geológica, climática e de relevo originou, no Rio Grande do Sul, extensas áreas de solos Hidromórficos argilosos, entre eles, os Planossolos e os Gleissolos. Quando saturados, estes solos apresentam baixa capacidade de suporte de carga, dificultando o trabalho de máquinas agrícolas e o deslocamento de veículos militares de roda. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar as condições de solo limite para a trafegabilidade de veículos militares de roda com tração 6 x 6 (Cascavel e Urutu), determinar a pressão de contato pneu-solo e predizer a condição de mobilidade a partir índice de cone do solo (ICS) e das características do veículo. O trabalho também propôs avaliar o desempenho de um trator agrícola com TDA em ensaio de tração e trafegabilidade, para verificar a influência da baixa pressão interna dos pneus e a quantidade de lastro do trator sobre o patinamento dos rodados, a capacidade de tração, o consumo de combustível e a mobilidade sob diferentes condições de umidade do solo. Foi verificado que a viatura militar Cascavel exerce pressão mínima pneu-solo de 357 kPa e requer ICS de 402 kPa na camada crítica para se locomover. O veículo Urutu exerce uma pressão pneu-solo de 401 kPa e necessita de uma resistência do solo mínima de 431 kPa para o tráfego singular. Os modelos de predição de trafegabilidade de veículos militares NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) e Mean Maximum Pressure (MMP) subestimam o ICS necessário para os solos estudados, porém, o modelo que mais aproximou o ICS ao requerido pelos veículos testados foi o MMP. No experimento com tratores verificou-se que a pressão interna dos pneus alterou e a adição de lastro não alterou a superfície de contato pneu-solo. Os maiores esforços na barra de tração foram obtidos em baixa velocidade de deslocamento, baixa pressão interna dos pneus e com trator completamente lastrado, operando em solo firme. O menor consumo específico de combustível foi obtido em solo firme, com trator sem lastro, baixa pressão nos pneus e operando em marcha alta. O acréscimo de umidade no solo diminuiu o coeficiente dinâmico de tração de 0,57 para 0,31 e a eficiência de tração de 50 para 37%. A utilização de baixa pressão interna nos pneus tem efeitos positivos na trafegabilidade em solos alagados, reduzindo significativamente o patinamento e aumentando a velocidade de deslocamento. A utilização de lastro no trator em condições de solo saturado tem efeito negativo, porque aumenta a demanda de potência e o consumo de combustível da operação.

В магистерской диссертации определены закономерности изменения тягово-эксплуатационных свойств и конструктивной безопасности автопоезда при модернизации тягово-сцепного устройства, уточнены методики определения параметров опорно-поворотного устройства с наклонной поворотной платформой, предложены конструкции тягово-сцепных устройств и представлены результаты испытаний масштабной модели автопоезда на ленточной конвейерной дорожке. / This master thesis the regularities of the change of traction and the performance and structural safety of the trains when upgrading trailer hitch, refined methods of determining the parameters of support-rotating device with a tilted turntable and the proposed design of the hitch and the results of tests of scale model train on a conveyor track.