TEAM INFINITY RACERS

Steering System for GO-Kart

By Vansh jain
ABSTRACT
This work includes the theory, design and analysis of go-kart Steering system. Ackerman Angle
calculations and design Geometry of Steering Geometry for Maximum Cornering performance in an Event
like cross pad , where lateral grip is most Important , and turning and feel of the vehicle
OVERVIEW

Steering linkage is a term used to describe a system of different pivots and connecting parts located between
the steering arms and steering gear that moves the tires of a vehicle.
Steering linkages take the motion from the steering gear output and transfer it to the steering arms, which in
turn send it to the wheels and allow them to turn in different directions. The system functions when a driver
turns the steering wheel
● Steering control arm: Control arms are components that connect the draglink and steering knuckle
on the driver’s side of a vehicle. When the draglink is moved in a straight line, the steering control
arm moves the steering knuckle, which changes the angle of the steering knuckle.
● Steering knuckles: Mounted to the front axle beam by steel pins also known as “kingpins,” steering
knuckles allow the pivoting action required to steer the vehicle. The knuckles also contain a spindle
where bearings and wheel hubs are mounted.
● Ball joints: These components help form a connection between the steering control arms and
steering knuckles. They allow the steering knuckles to have mobility. They play a key role in helping
front wheels move back and forth, as well as up and down, and do not affect steering.
● Tie rod ends: Tie rod ends are ball sockets that connect the control arms on each steering knuckle.
They help transfer and synchronize the steering action of both steer wheels. Tie rods feature grease
that works to cushion and protect the balls and sockets of the linkages as they move against each
other.

● Ackermann steering geometry 

is a geometric arrangement of linkages in the steering of a car or other vehicle designed to solve the
problem of wheels on the inside and outside of a turn needing to trace out circles of different radii. The
intention of Ackermann geometry is to avoid the need for tires to slip sideways when following the path
around a curve.[2] The geometrical solution to this is for all wheels to have their axles arranged as radii of
circles with a common centre point. As the rear wheels are fixed, this centre point must be on a line
extended from the rear axle. Intersecting the axes of the front wheels on this line as well requires that the
inside front wheel be turned, when steering, through a greater angle than the outside wheel. [2]

Rather than the preceding "turntable" steering, where both front wheels turned around a common pivot, each
wheel gained its own pivot, close to its own hub. While more complex, this arrangement enhances
controllability by avoiding large inputs from road surface variations being applied to the end of a long lever
arm, as well as greatly reducing the fore-and-aft travel of the steered wheels. A linkage between these hubs
pivots the two wheels together, and by careful arrangement of the linkage dimensions the Ackermann
geometry could be approximated. This was achieved by making the linkage not a simple parallelogram, but
by making the length of the track rod (the moving link between the hubs) shorter than that of the axle, so
that the steering arms of the hubs appeared to "toe out". As the steering moved, the wheels turned according
to Ackermann, with the inner wheel turning further.[2] If the track rod is placed ahead of the axle, it should
instead be longer in comparison, thus preserving this same "toe out".

Design and choice of geometry[edit]

Simple approximation for designing Ackermann geometry

Ackermann steering linkage

A simple approximation to perfect Ackermann steering geometry may be generated by moving the steering
pivot points inward so as to lie on a line drawn between the steering kingpins and the centre of the rear axle.
[2]
 The steering pivot points are joined by a rigid bar called the tie rod, which can also be part of the steering
mechanism, in the form of a rack and pinion for instance. With perfect Ackermann, at any angle of steering,
the centre point of all of the circles traced by all wheels will lie at a common point. Note that this may be
difficult to arrange in practice with simple linkages, and designers are advised to draw or analyse their
steering system over the full range of steering angles.

Go kart Steering GEOMETRY for 100% Ackerman

WHEELBASE: 40 inches
TRACKWIDHT F: 38.50
TIE ROD LEANGHT :12.45
ACKERMAN :100%
PIVOT TO PIVOT LEANGHT: 32 inches
GOALS
● To enable smooth and stable maneuvering of the vehicle.
● To optimize the steering effort
● Provide Maximum cornering force

SPECIFICATIONS According to ISIE-IKR rulebook 2021 Steering Mechanism:

• Teams can use any type of mechanical steering mechanism. (Rack and Pinion/ Steer by wire is excluded)
• The steering wheel must be mechanically connected to the wheels, i.e. “steer-by-wire” or electrically (Actuated steering is prohibited.)

• All parts of the steering system (steering column, track rod, tie rod, etc.) must be of metal except Steering wheel. Wheels Size:

Dry(slick) tires Front D1 4.5×10.0-5 Wet tires Front W1 or W2 4.5×10.0-5 Dry(slick) tires Rear D1 7.1×11.0-5 Wet tires Rear W1 or W2
6.0×11.0-5

Wheel alignment: Wheels should not be in a straight line in the longitudinal direction.

Wheel Base: The wheelbase is measured from the center of ground contact of the front and rear tires with the wheels pointed straight ahead.

Minimum wheelbase of the kart must be 40 inches (1016.0mm)

Track Width: Smaller track width must be minimum 65% of the wheel base.

STEERING SYSTEM
Mechanical arrangement is planned to be used this type of steering system was selected because of its
simple working mechanism and a steering ratio of 1:1 so to simple we have used mechanical type linkage.
Our steering geometry is having 99% Ackerman and also gives 60degree lock to lock turn of steering wheel
which is very suitable for the race track as it allows quick turns with a small input and being more precise at
the same time. We also attain a perspective turning radius of 2.37meter.
According to the Ackermann geometry the front tyres will rotate about the mean point as a result the entire
force will act on the outer front tyre on a corner. Thus the cornering traction will be primarily governed by
the outer tyre. We have chosen the mechanical linkage because it is cheap, light in weight and easy to
manufacture.
∙ Amount of steering wheel travelling is decreased
∙ It is simple and cheap
CONTROL ARM CAD MODEL TRIANGULAR PLATE CAD MODEL
STEERING SHAFT CAD TIE ROD CAD
STEERING SYSTEM CAD MODEL
Simulation of ARM model , FORCE : 2000NM [ Material 1020]

Simulation of triangular plate , force 250 nm[ material 1020]

 CALCULATIONS

Given:-

Front track width= 927.1mm

Front (pivot to pivot)= 812.8mm=BC=c

Rear track width= 1092.2mm

Wheelbase=AD=b=1016mm

For steering geometry we know that,

Cot Y – Cot X = C/B ---(1)

Where, C= pivot to pivot distance between the front wheels

B= wheelbase

Assuming interior angle ‘X’ to be 33deg, then according to the figure,

Cot x= AB/AD

Cot(33)= AB/B = AB/1016

AB=1565.48MM

1) Now, Radius of Inner Wheel to turning centre(BD) will be,

(BD)^2= (AD)^2+(AB)^2

BD=1865.46MM

2) According to eq (1),

Cot Y= C/B + Cot(33)

Y= 23.14DEG

3) Now, Radius of Outer Wheel to turning centre(CD) will be,

(CD)^2= (AC)^2+(AD)^2
CD= 2585.31MM

4) Assuming that centre of gravity will be 508mm(driver seat) from rear axle, then radius will be 2035.32mm
(as shown in figure 2)

5) Ackermann inside angle= tan^-1 (KPI to KPI Distance/2*wheelbase)

= 21.8deg

6) Ackermann angle= tan^-1 (B/((B/tany)-front trackwidth))

=34.6deg

7) Ackermann Percentage=( X/Ackermann angle) * 100

= 95.37%

8) Total steering angle= X+Y

=33+23.14

=56.14deg

9) Steering ratio is assumed as 1:1

10) Tie rod assembly length(approx.)= Pivot to pivot distance of front axle – 2* Distance between

Inner/outer front wheel centre axis and steering arm where the

Tie rods meet.

=812.8-2*(43.98)

=724.84mm

Length of one tie rod assembly= 724.84/2 = 362.42mm(approx.)

 (FIGURE 2)

REFERENCES 1. TUNE TO WIN -Carroll Smith 2. Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics - Thomas a Gillespi