Lecture 2

Date: Spring, 2016

Page: 1

MEEM 4450/5450
Vehicle Dynamics

Lecture 2 Center of Gravity

Dr. John Beard

Associate Professor
ME-EM Department
Michigan Tech University
jebeard@mtu.edu
906-487-3110

Lecture 2

Basic Course Information, Outline of Material

Focus is on applying mathematical models to

Go Fast
Turn Fast
Stop Fast
Turn and Stop Fast
Ride smooth!!!!!!

Copyright 2014 Michigan Tech

Date: Spring, 2016

Page: 2

Lecture 2

If it only takes three points to make a plane.

Three Wheels
Cool Ride!

Three Wheels
Maybe not the best

Maybe we should examine the location of the CG.

Maybe we can add one more wheel.
Copyright 2014 Michigan Tech

Date: Spring, 2016

Page: 3

Lecture 2

Date: Spring, 2016

Page: 4

External Forces on the Vehicle

From the basic FBD, we represent the tractive force Ft as a
function of engine power and vehicle speed.

Vehicle
performance

Rf

Ft

1
2

2 mg sin( )

=
=

F
mX
F
R
W
x
x

C
AX
(
,
,
)
f
D
t
X
2

Rolling
resistance

Wind drag

Copyright 2014 Michigan Tech

Road slope

Lecture 2

Questions?

Copyright 2014 Michigan Tech

Date: Spring, 2016

Page: 5