Lateral dynamics of motorcycles towing single-wheeled trailers

A motorcycle towing a single-wheel trailer may provide useful transport for light cargo on narrow tracks and off-road use, particularly in rural areas of developing countries. Four designs of such trailers are described. Linear models are derived for the lateral dynamics of an off-road motorcycle towing this type of trailer straight ahead at constant speed. The trailers were tested behind an instrumented motorcycle. Linear autoregressive models were fitted to the experimental data using system identification techniques. Analytical and experimentally derived models largely agreed on frequency, damping and shape of the weave, wobble and trailer sway normal modes. The trailers made the motorcycle’s steering heavier but the analytical models did not predict this. The location of the articulation axes between the motorcycle and the trailer were found to be critical for stability. The best trailer design handled well with loads up to 200 kg and speeds up to 70 km/h.     

Optimization of curving performance of rail vehicles

The curving performance of a transit rail vehicle model with 21 degrees of freedom is optimized using a combination of multibody dynamics and a genetic algorithm (GA). The design optimization is to search for optimal design variables so that the noise or wear, arising from misalignment of the wheelsets with the track, is reduced to a minimum level during curve negotiations with flange contact forces guiding the rail vehicle. The objective function is a weighted combination of angle of attack on wheelsets and ratios of lateral to vertical forces on wheels. Using the combination of the GA and a multibody dynamics modelling program, A’GEM, the generation of governing equations of motion for complex nonlinear dynamic rail vehicle models and the search for global optimal design variables can be carried out automatically. To demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed approach of using the combination of multibody dynamics and GAs, the numerical simulation results of the optimization are offered, the selected objective function is justified, and the sensitivity analysis of different design parameters and different design parameter sets on curving performance is performed. Numerical results show that compared with suspension and inertial parameter sets, the geometric parameter set has the most significant effect on curving performance.     

Kinematic and dynamic analysis of a heavy truck with individual front suspension

The main focus of this work is on the characteristics of a commercial vehicle with individual front suspension (IFS). Both kinematic and dynamic properties of the vehicle are investigated through simulations and analytical expressions. Moreover, employing the model of the tractor semitrailer combination, the study presents the results of comparison between the trucks with IFS and rigid front axle with respect to comfort and handling. This is done by analysing the responses of the vehicles to different road and steering inputs. The obtained results show enhanced comfort and steering feeling for the truck with IFS.     

Numerical investigation of engine-to-slip dynamics for motorcycle traction control applications

This work discusses the motorcycle engine-to-slip dynamics which are strictly related to the traction control design. A street motorcycle is analysed by means of an advanced mathematical model which also includes the tyre flexibility and the transmission compliance. The effects of the following parameters on engine-to-slip dynamics are investigated: vehicle speed, engaged gear ratio, sprocket absorber flexibility and road properties. Guidelines for increasing the maximum achievable closed-loop bandwidth are given.     

柴油机结构振动和辐射噪声特性研究

集多体动力学方法、有限元方法、声学边界元方法于一体,对某柴油机结构振动和结构辐射噪声特性系统地开展了数值预测和分析工作。通过模态试验数据修正了发动机各部件及组合结构有限元模型,确保了有限元模型的合理性。由计算所得发动机结构表面的振动速度值和试验值变化趋势一致,在部分频率段吻合较好。基于表面振动速度法通过Matlab编程获得了各部件的声功率级及其排序,能够有效地指导低噪声设计工作。通过有限元和边界元方法分别对不同激励工况下发动机结构振动响应和声学响应进行了预测,通过分析可知,在低频段范围内活塞激励和燃烧激励相对阀系激励对整机辐射噪声的影响大,高频段辐射噪声主要集中在1 700Hz左右频段,其中,阀系激励对该频段范围内辐射噪声的影响较大。     

A real-time approach to robust identification of tyre–road friction characteristics on mixed-μ roads

ABSTRACT

The interaction between the tyre and the road is crucial for understanding the dynamic behaviour of a vehicle. The road–tyre friction characteristics play a key role in the design of braking, traction and stability control systems. Thus, in order to have a good performance of vehicle dynamic stability control, real-time estimation of the tyre–road friction coefficient is required. This paper presents a new development of an on-line tyre–road friction parameters estimation methodology and its implementation using both LuGre and Burckhardt tyre–road friction models. The proposed method provides the capability to observe the tyre–road friction coefficient directly using measurable signals in real-time. In the first step of our approach, the recursive least squares is employed to identify the linear parameterisation form of the Burckhardt model. The identified parameters provide, through a T–S fuzzy system, the initial values for the LuGre model. Then, a new LuGre model-based nonlinear least squares parameter estimation algorithm using the proposed static form of the LuGre to obtain the parameters of LuGre model based on recursive nonlinear optimisation of the curve fitting errors is presented. The effectiveness and performance of the algorithm are demonstrated through the real-time model simulations with different longitudinal speeds and different kinds of tyres on various road surface conditions in both Matlab/Carsim environments as well as collected data from real experiments on a commercial trailer.     

Roll and pitch independently tuned interconnected suspension: modelling and dynamic analysis

In this paper, a roll and pitch independently tuned hydraulically interconnected passive suspension is presented. Due to decoupling of vibration modes and the improved lateral and longitudinal stability, the stiffness of individual suspension spring can be reduced for improving ride comfort and road grip. A generalised 14 degree-of-freedom nonlinear vehicle model with anti-roll bars is established to investigate the vehicle ride and handling dynamic responses. The nonlinear fluidic model of the hydraulically interconnected suspension is developed and integrated with the full vehicle model to investigate the anti-roll and anti-pitch characteristics. Time domain analysis of the vehicle model with the proposed suspension is conducted under different road excitations and steering/braking manoeuvres. The dynamic responses are compared with conventional suspensions to demonstrate the potential of enhanced ride and handling performance. The results illustrate the model-decoupling property of the hydraulically interconnected system. The anti-roll and anti-pitch performance could be tuned independently by the interconnected systems. With the improved anti-roll and anti-pitch characteristics, the bounce stiffness and ride damping can be optimised for better ride comfort and tyre grip.     

Implementation and verification of adaptive longitudinal traction control

Human in the loop (HIL) simulation has experienced a significant increase in popularity in recent years. In this work, a novel approach to traction control is developed and implemented in a HIL environment, exploiting the significant advantages of framing the problem in a manner that more closely matches how a human expert drives a vehicle. An adaptive gradient ascent algorithm is at the heart of the proposed solution to longitudinal traction control. A real-time implementation of the gradient ascent algorithm is developed using linear operator techniques, even though the tyre–ground interface is highly non-linear. The adaptive traction control algorithm is based on two separate, but related, estimation algorithms that estimate both the instantaneous traction force and a unique predictive traction force model. This adaptive control algorithm, the necessary estimation algorithms and their real-time implementation are described in this work. The results, when implemented as a driver assist application on a 6-DOF motion platform, with a HIL, are also presented. This work demonstrates the utility of a 6-DOF motion platform in developing and verifying vehicle control algorithms with a HIL.     

Lane-keeping benefits of practical rear axle steer

The classic two-degree-of-freedom yaw-plane or ‘bicycle’ vehicle model is augmented with two additional states to describe lane-keeping behaviour and further augmented with an additional control input to steer the rear axle. A simple driver model is hypothesised where the driver closes a loop on a projected lateral lane position. The driver can select the preview distance to compensate driver/vehicle dynamics, consistent with the ‘cross-over’ model found in the literature. A rear axle steer control law is found to be a function of the front axle steering input and vehicle speed that exhibits stability similar to a positive-real system, while at the same time improving the ability of the driver/vehicle system to track a complex curved lane and improving steady-state manoeuvrability. The theoretically derived control law bears similarity to practical embodiments allowing a deeper understanding of the functional value of steering a rear axle.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of rail corrugation on the behaviour of rail fastenings

This paper presents the results of a detailed investigation of the effects of rail corrugation on the dynamic behaviour of metro rail fastenings, obtained from extensive experiments conducted on site and from simulations of train–track dynamics. The results of tests conducted with a metro train operating on corrugated tracks are presented and discussed first. A three-dimensional (3D) model of the metro train and a slab track was developed using multi-body dynamics modelling and the finite element method to simulate the effect of rail corrugation on the dynamic behaviour of rail fastenings. In the model, the metro train is modelled as a multi-rigid body system, and the slab track is modelled as a discrete elastic support system consisting of two Timoshenko beams for the rails, a 3D solid finite element (FE) model for the slabs, periodic discrete viscoelastic elements for the rail fastenings that connect the rails to the slabs, and uniformly viscoelastic elements for the subgrade beneath the slabs. The proposed train–track model was used to investigate the effects of rail corrugation on the dynamic behaviour of the metro track system and fastenings. An FE model for the rail fastenings was also developed and was used to calculate the stresses in the clips, some of which rupture under the excitation of rail corrugation. The results of the field experiments and dynamics simulations provide an insight into the root causes of the fracture of the clips, and several remedies are suggested for mitigating strong vibrations and failure of metro rail fastening systems.