INFLUENCE OF LOAD ON THE BRAKING PROPERTIES OF A SEMI TRAILER TRUCK

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the influence of the mass of the load on the variation of the longitudinal braking deceleration of a semitrailer truck. Data were also obtained on the magnitude of braking decelerations under specific conditions. When investigating road accidents in the conditions of Bulgaria, no data are available in the specialized literature on the maximum braking decelerations of semi-trailer trucks, and the same can be said of the influence of the full mass of the vehicle on the braking properties. Such data are extremely important in expert evaluation of court cases. Traffic safety is one of the main factors for preserving human health and life. Bulgaria has a relatively high number of deaths as a result of traffic accidents among countries in the European Union. Thus, the problem is very relevant for this country. One of the main factors determining traffic safety is the braking properties of vehicles and, more specifically, the braking deceleration.