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VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS

The concept of land transportation system in the Philippines started when our ancestors invented
the means of locomotion with the animals in moving people and goods from place to place.
Although the means of land transportation during the early days were not as sophisticated as the
modern vehicles today and the roads not as well constructed, the early Filipinos also observed some laws
to govern their mobility.
These laws were as informal and simple as specifying which animal could be used certain purposes
but these showed that our ancestors had already felt the need to regulate the transportation system.
As early as 2010, there were already few motor vehicles seen operating in public highways in
Manila and suburbs.
Better means of transportation were invented and introduced in the country. Gradually, the
Filipinos learned to use cars, trucks, jeeps and other types of vehicles. The means of transportation
become better and powerful and the laws governing land travel become more formal and modern.
February 6, 1912, Legislative Act No. 2159, was enacted to regulate motor vehicles in the
Philippine Islands and to provide for the regulation and licensing of operators. This was the first formal
law on land transportation passed by legislature. The law created an Automobile Section under the
Administration Division of the Bureau of Public Works. The Section was tasked to take charge of motor
vehicles and driver’s workers.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now composed of the following regions:
 Region I – Aguila Road, Brgy. Sevilla, San Fernando City, La Union
 Region II – San Gabriel, Tuguegarao, Cagayan
 Region III – Brgy. Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
 Region IV A – Old City Hall Compound, Lipa City
 Region IV B – LTO Compound East Ave., QC
 Region V – Regional Government Center Site, Rawis, Legaspi City
 Region VI – Tabuc – Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City
 Region VII – Natalio Bacalio Avenue, Cebu City
 Region VIII – Old Army Road, Tacloban City
 Region IX – Veterans Avenue, Zamboanga City / Balangasan St., pagadian
 Region X – MVIS Compound, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City
 Region XI – Quimpo Blcd. Davao City
 Region XII – ARMM Cmpd. Cotabato City / No. 79 G. Del Pilar St., Koronadal City, South
Cotabato
 National Capital Region (NCR) – Delta BLDG, Mirasol St., Cubao, QC
 Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) – Engineer’s Hill, Baguio City / 2nd Flr. Point Office
Loop, Session Rd. Baguio City
 CARAGA – Capitol Avenue, Butuan City
 Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) – DSWD Bldg., ARMM Complex,
Cotabato City
VEHICLE TYPE AND SIZES

The type and size of motor vehicle influences clearances for bridges, tunnels and grade separation
structures and the geometric characteristics of streets, roads and parking facilities.
Street and highway facilities are used by variety of vehicles ranging from motorcycles to
articulated truck unit up to 72 ft (22m) in length and weighing over 80,000 lb (36,000 kgs).
Bicyclists also may use the public streets and highways, except for interstate and other controlled-
access highways.

1. Motorcycles, Two – Wheeled, And Three – Wheeled


 Are small motorized two or three – wheeled vehicles that can transport one or two people.
Since motorcycles can operate satisfactory on any streets of highway suitable for cars and
trucks, they are given little consideration in general highway design. However, every highway
facility should be evaluated for possible adverse design features as they relate to these
smaller, less visible vehicles.
2. Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
 Any dominant source of personal transportation. These vehicles typically weigh about 1,500
to 4,000 lb (680 to 1,800 kg) and accommodate two to six passengers.
3. Single – Unit Trucks
 have the cargo and power unit mounted on a common frame. These trucks range from two
axle, six – tire vehicles weighing up to 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) to three or four – axle vehicles
weighing up to 40,000 lb (18,144 kg). Single unit trucks are most commonly used for hauling
freight relatively short distances.
4. Combination Trucks, Semi-Trailer, and Full Trailer
 Have a power unit or tractor plus one or more trailers. The tractor-trailers are joined at a hitch
point and can be separated when not in use. Combination trucks may have two general types
of trailers: a semitrailer, which has one or more axles near its rear but no front axles, or a full
trailer, which has one or more axles at both its front and rear ends.
5. The Big Trucks (18 – Wheelers)
 The most comment of the big trucks is the tractor-semitrailer combination, which has five
axles, three on the tractor and two on the semitrailer. Such trucks are commonly referred to
as “18 – wheelers”. These trucks typically have 48 ft (14.60 m) trailers.
6. Twin Trailer (Western Doubles)
 Configurations are becoming more common on American highways. Twin-trailer truck
consists of a tractor plus a 28 ft. (8.5 m) semitrailer followed by another 28ft. (8.5 m)
semitrailer. Such trucks are sometimes referred to as "Western doubles".
7. VAN
 A passenger vehicle mounted on an automobile or light truck chassis that is capable of
transporting 6 to 15 passengers.
8. BUS
 Usually transport more than 15 passengers.
9. RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
Have a variety of configurations, including passenger care with trailers, pick-up trucks with camper
bodies and motor homes.
Vehicle Performance Characteristics
If the highway systems are to operate safely and efficiently, highway and traffic engineers need
to understand performance characteristics of the various vehicles that use such systems.
Vehicle performance limitations and capabilities affect required:
 Length of speed
 Change lanes
 Weaving lanes
 No-passing zones
 And the design of traffic control systems.

Vehicle Characteristic Criteria


Criteria for the geometric design of highways are partly based on the static, kinematic, and
dynamic characteristics of vehicles.
 Static characteristics include the weight and size of the vehicle. The size of the design vehicle
for a highway is an important factor in the determination of design standards for several
physical components of the highway. These include lane width, shoulder width, length and
width of parking bays, and lengths of vertical curves.
 Kinematic characteristics involve the motion of the vehicle without considering the forces
that cause the motion.
 Dynamic characteristics involve the forces that cause the motion of the vehicle.
Several forces act on a vehicle while it is in motion: air resistance, grade resistance, rolling
resistance, and curve resistance. The extents to which these forces affect the operation of the
vehicle are discussed in this section.

Resistance:
A vehicle's motion tends to be retarded by at least five types of resistance:
 Inertial resistance
 Grade resistance
 Rolling resistance
 Curve resistance
 Air resistance

Inertial Resistance
Inertia is the tendency of a body to resist acceleration.
The tendency to remain at rest or to remain in motion in a straight line unless acted upon by some force.
The force Fi, lb (Newton) required to overcome a vehicles’ inertia is described by the familiar relationship.

𝑾𝒂
𝑭𝒊 = 𝒎 𝒂 =
𝒈
Where: m = vehicle mass, lb-sec2/ft (kg-sec2/m)
a = acceleration, ft/sec2 (m/sec2)
w = vehicle weight, lb (kg)
g = acceleration force due to gravity, 32.2 ft/sec2 (9.81m/sec2)

Note: When acting to move a vehicle forward, this force is positive. When the force is slowing or stopping
a vehicle, it and the corresponding acceleration (deceleration) are negative.
Grade Resistance
Grade resistance is the component of the gravitational force acting down a frictionless inclined surface.
This force F, is expressed in units of lb(N) and is:

𝑭𝒈 = 𝒎𝒈 𝐬𝐢𝐧 ∅

Where: m = vehicle mass, lb –sec2/ft (kg-sec2/m)


g = accelerative force due to gravity, 32.2 ft/sec2 (9.81 m/sec2)
∅ = angle of incline (degree)

Rolling Resistance
A vehicle does not operate on a smooth, frictionless surface.
There is resistance to motion as the tires roll over irregularities in the surface and push through
mud, sand or snow. This resistance termed rolling resistance, 𝐹𝑟 includes that the caused by the flexing
of the tires and the internal friction of the moving parts of the vehicle.
Rolling resistance is higher on low quality pavement surfaces and it increases with increase in
vehicle speed.
Uniform Speed (mph)
Pavement Surfaces
20 30 40 50 60

Smooth Asphalt 25 29 31 35 34

Badly, Broken and Patched Pavement 29 34 40 51 -

Dry, Well – Packed Gravel 31 35 50 62 -

Loosed Sand 35 40 57 76 -

Source: Traffic Engineering Handbook, Institute of Transportation Engineers, 1992

Curve resistance
As was stated earlier, once a vehicle is set in motion, it tends to remain in motion in a straight line
unless acted on by some force.
The forces changing the direction of a vehicle are imparted through the front wheels. Components
of these forces tend to impede a vehicles’ forward motion.
Curve resistance, then, is the force required to cause a vehicle to move along curved path. It is a
function of the radius and the vehicle speed. Curve resistance, 𝐹𝑐 are determined by the following
equation:

𝒗𝟐 𝑾
𝑭𝒄 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 ( )
𝒈𝑹

Where: v = the vehicle velocity, ft/sec (m/sec)


W = Vehicle weight, lb (kg)
g = gravitational pull, 32.2 ft / sec2 (9.81 m/sec2)
R = radius of curvature, ft (m)
Air Resistance
Air resistance includes the force required to move air from the vehicle’s pathway as well as the
frictional effects of air along its top, sides, and undercarriage.
It is a function of the frontal cross-sectional are of the vehicle and the square of the vehicle speed.
The air resistance, 𝐹𝑎 is expressed in units of lb (N) and can be estimated by the following
equation:
𝑭𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟎 × 𝑪𝒅 × 𝑨 × (𝝆 × 𝒗𝟐 )

Where: Cd = Aerodynamic drag coefficient (typically 0.40 for passenger cars and 0.50 to 0.80 for trucks)
A = Frontal cross – sectional area, ft2 (m2)
𝜌 = air density, lb – sec2/ft (kg-sec2/m)
V = vehicle velocity, ft/sec (m/sec)

Power Resistance
Power is defined as the rate at which work is done.
The power, P required to overcome the various resistances and to propel a vehicle is expressed
in units of horsepower, hp where 1hp = 550 ft-lb/sec, and may be computed by the following equation:

𝑹 ×𝒗
𝑷= 𝒉𝒑
𝟓𝟓𝟎

Where: R = sum of various resistances


v = vehicle velocity, ft/sec (m/sec)

It should be emphasized that the power computed is only that required for propulsion. It does
not include the power required for a vehicle’s automatic transmission, power steering, air conditioner and
other such accessories.

Acceleration and Deceleration Performances


A motor vehicle moves according to fundamental laws of motion, relationship among distance
time, velocity and uniform acceleration are given by the following equations:

𝒗𝒇 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒂𝒕
𝟏
𝒅 = 𝒗𝒐 𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕𝟐
𝟐
𝒗𝒇 𝟐 = 𝒗𝒐 𝟐 + 𝒂𝒕

Where: 𝑣𝑓 = final velocity


𝑣𝑜 = initial velocity
𝑎 = acceleration or deceleration
t = time
d = distance

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