DETERMINATION OF THE GRAVITY CENTRE OF A VEHICLE USING MASS AND DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS UNITS

Abstract

When designing and verifying calculations of vehicles, it is often necessary to determine the position of the center of gravity. The longitudinal coordinate of the center of gravity has a significant impact on the ride and handling. The height of the center of gravity affects the longitudinal stability when driving downhill and lateral stability when driving curved or on a slope. Calculation of the redistribution of normal reactions on wheels during braking and determination of the coefficient of adhesion in real time requires taking into account both the longitudinal and vertical coordinates of the center of gravity. The exact determination of the center of gravity is carried out by tests on a stand to assess the static stability according to a standardized method. However, experimental determination of the center of gravity is often difficult, especially at the design stage or in the educational process. The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology for determining the center of gravity of a wheeled vehicle based on reference data and to verify its adequacy. The method proposed by the author is based on the hypothesis that the center of gravity of each mass element of the vehicle is located in its geometric center, which is determined by the dimensional or layout drawing superimposed on the coordinate grid. In this case, the gross and curb weight of the vehicle, as well as the masses of its units, are determined by reference. The adequacy of the proposed method is confirmed by comparing the calculated coordinates of the center of gravity with experimental values. The developed technique can be used in the educational process, in the design and verification calculations of vehicles, including special purpose vehicles, as well as in the algorithms of active safety systems and unmanned vehicles.