In Germany, rules, standards and guidelines apply to everything. So they say. But researchers at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts and their partners suspect that there are gaps in the specifications for load safety in trucks. In the "CargoSec" project, they are getting to the bottom of the matter.
"In our simulations, we observe acceleration peaks that affect the truck bodies," says Alexander Lampkowski, research assistant at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Fachhochschule Dortmund. "They occur in particular when the coefficient of friction changes." Put simply, if the adhesion between the tires and the road changes - for example, because leaves, snow or heavy rain make the road more slippery - this leads to increased forces on the side walls of the loaded vehicles when the road surface becomes dry. If the limit values are exceeded, this can lead to serious accidents. "The current guidelines and standards for commercial vehicle bodies therefore need to be updated using the latest technology," says Alexander Lampkowski.
Making freight transportation safer
Researchers at Fachhochschule Dortmund are currently simulating driving maneuvers with different types of vehicles in order to identify specific hazards. Together with the "CargoSec" project partners, concrete tests of the borderline situations are then carried out on the test site of the LaSiSe research and technology center in Selm. The tests are designed in such a way that they can be repeated on other test routes in Europe.
"We want to make freight transport on the road safer overall and, if necessary, adapt the applicable standards and guidelines to the current state of vehicle technology using precise measurement technology," emphasizes Ralf Damberg, Managing Director of project partner LOG4-Consult from Lünen. The relevance of this topic for the industry is demonstrated by the advisory board in the "CargoSec" project. Representatives from beverage logistics, the packaging industry, the steel trade and experts from the insurance industry and occupational safety are supporting the project with their expertise.
The research project will be prominently presented at the IAA Transportation in Hanover in September 2022. The International Motor Show for Commercial Vehicles takes place every two years, alternating with the IAA Mobility for passenger cars.
The "CargoSec" project is funded by "WIPANO - Knowledge and Technology Transfer through Patents and Standards". WIPANO is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Business Studies and Climate Protection.