Experimental modeling of the effect of hurricane wind forces on driving behavior and vehicle performance

Authors

Jose M. Rodriguez, Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Julius Codjoe, Hazardous Substance Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America.
David Curtis, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America.
Matthew Rodrigue, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America.
John H. Pardue, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America; Hazardous Substance Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America. Electronic address: jpardue@lsu.edu.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

While traffic planning is important for developing a hurricane evacuation plan, vehicle performance on the roads during extreme weather conditions is critical to the success of the planning process. This novel study investigates the effect of gusty hurricane wind forces on the driving behavior and vehicle performance. The study explores how the parameters of a driving simulator could be modified to reproduce wind loadings experienced by three vehicle types (passenger car, ambulance, and bus) during gusty hurricane winds, through manipulation of appropriate software. Thirty participants were then tested on the modified driving simulator under five wind conditions (ranging from normal to hurricane category 4). The driving performance measures used were heading error and lateral displacement. The results showed that higher wind forces resulted in more varied and greater heading error and lateral displacement. The ambulance had the greatest heading errors and lateral displacements, which were attributed to its large lateral surface area and light weight. Two mathematical models were developed to estimate the heading error and lateral displacements for each of the vehicle types for a given change in lateral wind force. Through a questionnaire, participants felt the different characteristics while driving each vehicle type. The findings of this study demonstrate the valuable use of a driving simulator to model the behavior of different vehicle types and to develop mathematical models to estimate and quantify driving behavior and vehicle performance under hurricane wind conditions.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of emergency management (Weston, Mass.)

First Page

159

Last Page

72

Recommended Citation

Rodriguez, J. M., Codjoe, J., Curtis, D., Rodrigue, M., & Pardue, J. H. (2015). Experimental modeling of the effect of hurricane wind forces on driving behavior and vehicle performance. Journal of emergency management (Weston, Mass.), 13 (2), 159-72. https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2015.0228