Heavy Truck – DISC/S-CAM III Air Brake

 

Overview:  Computes and Simulates the deceleration of S-CAM or Air Disc (Power Shaft or Eccentric Lever) equipped vehicles based on Initial Speed or Distance and the setup and adjustments of the vehicles braking system.  This module compensates for the heat created during the run.  In Automatic ABS mode (REC-TEC Platinum - DISC/S-CAM V Air Brake) the instantaneous Chamber air pressure differential set by the user is maintained throughout the course of the run.

 

Entry into Module:

 

This module of the program is normally entered by clicking on the REC-TEC block in the upper left of the REC-TEC Window causing the drop-down menu to appear.  Place the cursor on the Heavy Truck block and click on DISC/S-CAM III Air Brake on the sub-menu to initiate this module.

 

Under certain circumstances, the user may choose to use the Files block instead of the drop-down menu approach.  Selecting any file with a .TRK extension in the Dialog box accessed from either the Open Single File or Open Multiple Files block opens this module.

 

Selecting AutoLoad [ON] from either the Setup Menu or the AutoLoad Icon on the upper right side (third line) of the REC-TEC Window automatically loads the two-vehicle scenario that was on the screen when the module was closed, either individually, or when the program was closed.  With AutoLoad [OFF] on the main REC-TEC Window, modules will start without loading a file.  Use AutoLoad [OFF] and manually load the file if only one vehicle is involved.

 

Data Entry:

 

This module contains the following data entry blocks:

 

S-Cam/Disc Air Brake

 

·        Surface Friction – Measured

·        C/TTD – Car Truck Tire Differential – adjustment to Surface Friction

·        Grade (Test) – Grade at Friction Test Area – used to correct to level if Surface Friction not measured at Actual site

·        Grade (Actual) – Grade at Area under scrutiny (Scene)

 

 

Compute for:

·        Initial Speed – Solves for Initial Speed using input value for Distance (Iteration)

·        Distance – Solves for Distance using input value for Initial Speed

 

Compute for Distance/Initial Speed – Command Button to initiate computations

 

·        Final Speed – Final Speed of Vehicle in this run (multiple runs possible)

·        Steer Axles – Number of Steer Axles

·        Drive Axles – Number of Drive Axles

·        Trailer Axles – Number of Trailer Axles

·        Temp – Temperature of brakes at Start of (first) run (See Temperature note infra)

·        Air Press – Air Pressure / User may elect to use 100(%) here and use actual Chamber Air Pressure for individual Wheels

 

Brake Status

 

·        CS (Cold Stroke) – Changes Display to show Cold Stroke Pushrod Force at the Static Start Temperature

·        DS (Dynamic Stroke) – Changes Display to include Initial Dynamic Increment to Cold Stroke Pushrod Force at the Static Start Temperature

 

The following information list pertains to each axle end in the configuration:

 

·        A/S – Axle Number / Side (Left/Right)

·        Type – Chamber Type – Enter directly or select from Chamber Type (below)

·        Lift – Enter horizontal distance the power shaft travels in one complete revolution for Air Disc if not default

·        Psi(E) – Enter as Percent (%) or Actual Pressure at Chamber.  Dependent on entry for Air Press – this is opposite of Air Press entry.  Entering a zero (0) or blanking out the entry turns the brake inoperable and it becomes freewheeling unless it is locked.

·        Slk L – Length of Slack Adjuster (measured)

·        f(L) – Friction value of Brake Pad

·        PRc – Pushrod Stroke (Cold - measured)

·        P Force – Shows either the Cold Stroke Force at the Initial Static Temperature or the Stroke incremented for the Initial Dynamic Increment. (User Selectable)

·        Lock(<) – Minimum Force required to Lock Brake for Load

·        r-P/D – (Air Disc) distance from Center of Pad to Wheel Axis / Drum Radius

·        R-rad – Rolling Radius of Wheel (measured Center to Surface)

·        Vload – Vertical Load on Axle end

 

Many of the above columns have “radio buttons” that will populate all blocks in the column with the value inserted in block(1).

 

Check Boxes (New)

 

 

Termination – Selection allows termination of run for multiple (Segmented by Time or Distance or Speed) runs or at Collision Speed as required.

 

·        Final Speed

·        Time

·        Distance

 

Computation Increment – Sets the Time increment between computations during run.  Accuracy increases as increment is shortened between “looks” at the status of all of the brakes in the system. 

 

·        0.1 Seconds

·        0.01 Seconds

·        0.001 Seconds

·        0.033 Seconds (Animation output)

 

 

Output – The output from this module is divided into several different selectable options:

           

·        View Input Data – Gray Command Button at bottom of main screen limits display to the input variables as entered

 

·        Compute for Distance/Initial Speed – Green Command Button in leftmost frame initiates computations and displays Final Status of all brakes.  The small vertical bar to the right of the Compute button will run the computations without engaging the Matrix data.

 

Table Legend

 

·        Wheel – Axle Number / Side (Left/Right)

·        Type – Chamber Type

·        Psi(E) – Percent (%) or Actual Pressure at Chamber.  Dependent on entry for Air Press – this is opposite of Air Press entry. 

·        Sl/Lm – Length of Slack Adjuster (measured) or Air Disk (Lever Measured)

·        Lift – horizontal distance the power shaft travels in one complete revolution for Air Disc (Power Shaft) if not default (2.125)

·        f(L) – Friction value of Brake Pad

·        PRc – Pushrod Stroke (Cold - measured)

·        T(I) – Temperature Increase

·        PRh – Pushrod Stroke (Hot)

·        D(I) – Dynamic Increase

·        PRd – Pushrod Stroke (Dynamic)

·        Force – Pushrod Force

·        r-P/D – (Air Disc) distance from Center of Pad to Wheel Axis / Drum Radius

·        R-rad – Rolling Radius of Wheel (measured Center to Surface)

·        Vload – Vertical Load on Axle end

·        %Tot – Percent of Total

·        Avl BF – Available Brake Force corrected for grade

·        Att BF – Attempted Brake Force corrected for grade

·        BForce – Brake Force corrected for grade

·        Eff – Efficiency corrected for grade

·        %Brk – Braking(%) corrected for grade

·        S – Status:  (L)ocked; (I)noperative; (F)ailed; (Ok) Working not Locked

 

·    Note:  Temperature (Start) – After testing and consultation with Ron Heusser, the following program settings are currently used within the program for determining the temperature increment during the course of the brake application.  These settings allow the user to disable the temperature incrementing by setting a starting temperature below 70 degrees.

 

o At temperatures below 70 degrees, the temperature increment is disabled

o At temperatures between 70 and 300 degrees, the increment is linear

o At temperatures above 300 degrees, the increase becomes non-linear and follows the formulae in the SAE paper #910126.

 

 

·        View Text File – An output file is created for the time increment showing Time, Velocity, Distance and Braking (% based on 1).  This output file is space-delimited and can be called into Excel® or used by animators.

 

·        Simulation – Engages a Graphical Display of Brake Status and Deceleration Curve for Vehicle with Time (top) and Distance (bottom) scales. The display also contains running digital information on speeds, times and distances, which are stopped at the point of failure or at final values.  The values are updated for the computation time increments selected.   [Esc] to Exit. 

 

·        Color Legend – Left side wheels are Green and Right side wheels are Red. 

 

Color Legend:

·        Yellow = Locked

·        Purple = Spring Brake only

·        Green = Operable – not locked

·        Red = Failed

·        Orange = Braking not able to overcome grade

·        Pink = Inoperable

·        Dark Blue = ABS Air Disk (sensor)

·        Light Blue = ABS Air Disc (no sensor or slaved)

·        Dark Gray = ABS S-Cam (sensor)

·        Light Gray = ABS S-Cam (no sensor or slaved)

 

Options: 

 

Several Command Buttons appear in a frame located at the lower right corner of the module Window.  The Command Buttons allow the user to engage options including the option to Open and Save the data (for Vehicle 1 and Vehicle 2) required to generate the scenario shown on the screen at the time the file was saved. 

 

·        Open .TRK File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Opens any pre-existing .TRK file and displays the output results.

 

·        Save .TRK File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Saves data on the screen to files with any user-selectable filenames.  This is independent of the automatic saving as “LastFile.TRK” of the data at the close of this module or the close of the program.

 

·        Force Chart – Shows the current Force Chart values (Identical to the imbedded values in the program), which have been reviewed and updated by Ron Heusser.  These are not the same values as used in his SAE paper #910126 “Heavy Truck Deceleration Rates as a Function of Brake Adjustment” Ronald B. Heusser, NTSB.  This module is based on the principles set forth in that paper with all modifications requested or approved by Ron Heusser including the upgrade to the 2008 values and the 2008 modifications to the brake force formulae.

 

·        Segmented Run (Next) – Running the program with a non-zero Final Speed or a Time or Distance that results in a non-zero Final Speed, enables this Command Button.  Selecting Segmented Run brings up a Dialog box for saving the current scenario as a uniquely named file.  The module then reconfigures for the next Segment of the run.  This process will continue until a Final Speed of zero (0) is reached.  At the completion of the run to a Final Speed of zero (0), the user must manually save the last segment.

 

·        N – This button toggles a graphical number pad on the screen that can be used to enter data into the input boxes without using your keyboard number pad.  This may be useful for presentations as data entry can be accomplished using a wired/wireless mouse.

 

·        FD Analysis – (REC-TEC Platinum – DISC/S-CAM V Air Brake) Calls up a frame that permits the user to input the minimum and maximum values for selected input variables.  The resulting analysis computes the uncertainty level for the specified range of the input variables.

 

For a more in-depth description of Finite Difference Analysis, see the Finite Difference Analysis Section of this Manual – Press [F2] from any Active module of the program.