Chapter -5
Stability of Vehicles and Tire Dynamics
Outline
• Load distribution
• Stability of a vehicle on a slope, on a curve and a banked road.
• Calculation of Tractive effort and reactions for different drives
Stability of Vehicles
• Vehicle stability refers to a vehicle's ability to maintain its intended path and speed, and resist
external forces or disturbances. Vehicles at its most stable when travelling in a straight line at
constant speed with the weight evenly distributed across all the wheels and round the curve at
constant speed with the weight evenly distributed between front and rear.
• It's a crucial aspect of automotive design that affects the safety, performance, and comfort of the
drivers and passengers.
• Vehicle stability testing is a crucial process in automotive design that evaluates how well a vehicle
can handle different road conditions, maneuvers, and speeds. It involves measuring various
parameters such as lateral acceleration, yaw rate, steering angle, and roll angle, and comparing them
to the desired values.
Types of Vehicle Stability
Static Stability
• Refers to a vehicle's ability to resist tipping or overturning when stationary.
• It is determined by factors such as the center of gravity (CG) and the width of the
wheelbase.
Dynamic Stability
• Refers to a vehicle's ability to maintain control and resist overturning or skidding during
motion, especially during sudden maneuvers or on uneven terrain.
Factors Affecting Vehicle Stability
Center of Gravity (CG):
• The height and position of the CG significantly influence stability.
• A lower CG improves stability, while a higher CG makes a vehicle more prone to tipping.
• Lateral or longitudinal shifts in CG (e.g., due to uneven loading) can also affect stability.
Track Width:
• The distance between the wheels on the same axle. A wider track width enhances lateral
stability by reducing the tendency to roll during cornering.
Wheelbase:
• The distance between the front and rear axles.
• A longer wheelbase improves longitudinal stability, such as when braking or accelerating.
Suspension Design:
• The stiffness and damping characteristics of the suspension system play a role in absorbing
shocks and reducing body roll.
Tire Properties:
• Traction, grip, and tire pressure contribute to maintaining stability, especially during
dynamic conditions like sharp turns or wet surfaces.
Vehicle Speed:
• Stability decreases at higher speeds due to the increased effect of aerodynamic forces
and reduced reaction time.
Aerodynamics:
• Proper aerodynamic design minimizes lift and ensures that downforce is distributed
evenly, enhancing high-speed stability
Vehicle Stability Enhancements
• Modern vehicles often include technologies to enhance stability:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC):
• Automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to prevent skidding or loss of control
during critical situations.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS):
• Prevents wheels from locking during hard braking, ensuring steering control is maintained.
Traction Control System (TCS):
• Reduces wheel spin by adjusting engine power or braking individual wheels.
Active Suspension Systems:
• Continuously adjust suspension settings based on driving conditions to improve handling and
stability.
Load distribution
• Three wheel vehicle
• The forces acting on a vehicle at rest are shown in figure.
• There are three unknowns which can be determined as follows: Moment about
rear axle gives
• Therefore, Moment about central axis gives,
• Therefore,
• Moment about central axis of the front wheel gives,
• Therefore
FOUR-WHEELED VEHICLE
• Forces acting on a four-wheeled vehicle at rest, we can form three independent equations to
take care of four unknown viz., four reactions at the wheels. Thus the problem is simplified by
considering it as a two-wheeled vehicle, i.e. the reactions on both rear wheels is equal and also
on both front wheels. Let and be vertical reactions at front and rear wheel respectively.
Stability on a slope, curved track and a banked road
Stability of a vehicle on a slope
Let the vehicle rests on a slope of inclination Ɵ to the horizonta1. This alters the
distribution of the weight between the front and back axle and gives rise to reaction which
can have components along the perpendicular to the inclined plane as shown.
Stability of a vehicle on a banked track
CURVED TRACK
• Stability of a Vehicle Taking a Turn for four-wheeled vehicle
Calculation of tractive effort and reactions for different drives
Calculation of Maximum Acceleration, Maximum Tractive Effort and Reactions for
Different Drives
Thank you
