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Numerical study on vehicle stability under crosswind conditions on desert highways
Zheguang Zhang1, Songli Chen2, Wei Zhang3
1School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China.
Scientific Reports
|July 2, 2025
Summary
Strong crosswinds significantly impact SUV stability on desert highways. Medium SUVs are more vulnerable, with aerodynamic forces posing a greater risk than road friction, necessitating new safety models.
Area of Science:
- Vehicle Dynamics and Aerodynamics
- Road Safety Engineering
Background:
- Desert highways experience significant crosswind challenges impacting vehicle stability.
- Understanding aerodynamic forces is crucial for ensuring vehicle safety in these environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the stability of small and medium SUVs under various crosswind and vehicle speeds.
- To evaluate the influence of aerodynamic effects versus road friction on vehicle stability.
- To develop a stability evaluation model and identify critical safety indicators for desert conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized aerodynamic six-component force theory.
- Employed vehicle dynamics simulation software (CarSim).
- Simulated varying wind speeds (17.1–28.4 m/s) and vehicle speeds (60–120 km/h), excluding driver input.
Main Results:
- Lateral displacement and yaw angle increase with higher wind and vehicle speeds.
- Medium SUVs exhibit greater susceptibility to crosswind instability and rollover risk compared to small SUVs.
- Aerodynamic effects were found to be more critical for stability than road surface friction.
Conclusions:
- Aerodynamic forces are the dominant factor in vehicle stability on desert highways.
- Increased speeds reduce available reaction time and expand lateral safety margins.
- The study provides a basis for highway design, windproof engineering, and optimized active control strategies for enhanced desert driving safety.
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