3.2.3.

1 CENTER OF GRAVITY

Parameter Center of Gravity

Maximum mass of driver, m1 : 50 kg

Maximum vehicle mass without driver, m2 : 130 kg

Maximum vehicle mass with driver,m : 180 kg

Wheelbase range, S : 140cm to 180cm. Wheelbase used is 174.5 cm
Maximum vehicle height, H : 111 cm
Maximum vehicle length, L : 210 cm
Maximum vehicle width, W : 55 cm
Track width, W : at least (75%) of the wheelbase used

Assumption:

The sum of the vertical must be zero

The sum of the horizontal forces must be zero
The clockwise and anti-clockwise moments must be equal in size but opposite
direction.
The front wheels carry 0.40 per cent of the mass and the rear wheels carry 0.60 per
cent.

Calculation
Yield stress for mild steel = 250 MPa

Weight of vehicle with driver, w

w = mg = (50 + 130)(9.81) = 1765.8 N
F=

W
4

k = 8500 N/m

1765.8
4

= 441.45N

0
= 39. 8

F sin = kx
39.8
sin

x=
= 133 mm
(1765.8)

Speed assumption, v
50 km
h

v=

1000 m
1 hr 1 min
x
x
=
1 km 60 min 60 s

13.889 m/s

a) Center of Gravity in X-direction

S1

S2
S

Total S = 1.745m
W = mg = (130)(9.81) = 1275.3 N
Rf

= 0.4W = 0.4(1275.3) = 510.12 N

Rr = 0.6W = 0.6(1275.3) = 765.18 N

Moment at Center of Gravity
Rf S1 =

Rr S 2

(510.12) S 1 = (765.18) S 2
S 1 = 1.5 S 2 (1)
Total wheelbase length, S
S 1 +S 2 = S .(2)
Substitute equation (1) into (2)

1.5 S 2 +

S 2 = 1.745 m

S 2 = 0.698 m
S 1 = 1.047 m

b) Center of Gravity in Y- direction

RL =

RR

W
2

RL =

RR

W 1275.3
=
2
2

= 637.65 N

The track width is 0.75(75%) of wheelbase length

T = 0.75S
= 0.75(1.745)
= 1.309 m
Moment at Center of Gravity

R L t1 =
t1

= t2

T = t1

+ t2

1.309 = t 1
t1

RR t 2

= t2

+ t2 = 2 t1
= 0.655 m

Distance center line of left wheel to center of gravity = 0.655 m)

c) Center of Gravity in Z-direction

o
=2 0

; W = 1275.3 N ; r = 0.3048 m ; l = 1.745 m ; b = 0.9 m ;

The summation of vertical forces in the y-direction is equal 0.

Fy = 0

Rf 1
Then:

Rr 1 W = 0

Rf 1

=W-

Rr 1

The summation of moments about any point is equal 0, then:

MA = 0
Rf 1 (L cos ) W(AB) = 0
Rf 1 (L cos ) = W(AB)..(6)

From the figure:

AB = AC BC,

Where:
AC = b cos , and
BC = ED = (h-r) sin ,
Then:
AB = AC BC
= (b cos ) - (h-r) sin

Substitute the value of AB form the above equation in Eq. (6), then
Rf 1 (L cos ) = W((b cos ) - (h-r) sin )
Rf 1 (L cos ) = W b cos - W(h-r) sin
W(h-r) sin = W b cos -

Rf 1 (L cos )

h r = [ b L( Rf 1 / W )] cot .(7)

h = [ b L( Rf 1 / W )] cot + r(8)

where:
1
= sin
(H/L)

( h r ) is the distance Center of Gravity above the axle plane, Eq. (7)
h r = 0.189 m
h is the distance Center of Gravity above the ground, Eq. (8)
h = 0.189 + 0.4938 = 0.494 m

d) Instantaneous Center

INSTANTANEOUS CENTER

Roll center is defined as point on the centre-line of the car around which the car rolls

on its suspensions when cornering

If the axis of roll center runs nose-down, the car tends to oversteer
If the axis of roll center runs nose-up, the car tends to understeer.

Rolling Resistance, c
Fr

= cw

w = mg

c = 0.005 +

c = 0.005 +

Fr

1
P

V
100
[ 0.01 + 0.0095(

1
1962

13.889
100

[ 0.01 + 0.0095

= (5.005 x 10

] = 5.005 x 10

)(200 x 9.81) = 9.82 N