Experimental Study of the Effect of Tire Pressure and Cab Height of a Tractor-Trailer Driver on Driving Comfort

Abstract The work concerns the study of the influence of the driver’s cabin and tire pressure settings on the driving comfort in a semi-trailer tractor, assessed by analyzing vibrations at the base of the driver’s seat during the transport of mining spoil. The following configurations were considered: a tractor with nominal cabin height and tire pressure settings, a raised cabin, and increased tire pressure. Driving comfort was assessed based on the difference between the maximum and minimum vertical acceleration and the determined RMS (Root Mean Square) and PSD (Power Spectral Density) indicators. From the ride comfort perspective, the lowest RMS values were for the vehicle with correctly set suspension and tire pressure. PSD analysis indicated the dominance of vibrations with a frequency of 1-3 Hz, which have a large impact on travel comfort.