MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE MOVEMENT OF A LOW-TONNAGE TRUCK WITH A MECHANICAL ENERGY RECOVERY UNIT

Abstract

To date, an important role in many areas of economic activity is played by road freight transport. First of all, it depends on how quickly and reliably the goods will be delivered from one place to another. With an extensive list of various goods that need to be transported, there is no less a large selection of vehicles to perform these tasks.

Due to the fact that heavy trucks are currently prohibited from entering most cities, low-tonnage trucks, including vans and trucks of the transport category “N1”, have become in demand. Their main purpose is the transportation of small shipments within the city or over relatively short distances.

Low-tonnage trucks should have not only high dynamic characteristics, but also low fuel consumption. Numerous studies have shown that the most promising direction of increasing dynamic characteristics and reducing fuel consumption are mechanical energy recovery devices that accumulate the energy of the rotating masses of the car during braking and transfer it to the same rotating masses at the moment the car starts moving. Analysis of the movement of light trucks using a mechanical energy recovery device can reveal changes in the dynamics of light trucks and fuel consumption.

Purpose. Investigation of changes in dynamic characteristics and fuel consumption of a low-tonnage truck with a mechanical energy recovery unit using a model in the MATLAB Simulink environment.

Methodology. Methods of mathematical modeling and analysis were used in the article.

Results. The parameters showing the efficiency of operation of a low-tonnage truck with a mechanical energy recovery unit are obtained.

Practical implications. The results obtained can be applied when designing a car to identify the optimal parameters of the vehicle’s power plant, which are used together with mechanical energy recovery devices.