EFFECT OF TRACTIVE FORCE ON DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AND CONTROLLABILITY OF VEHICLES

A FORMULA IS DERIVED FOR A SIMPLE MODEL OF A CAR WHICH IS TURNING AND IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TRACTIVE FORCES. BOTH FRONT WHEEL AND REAR WHEEL DRIVE ARE CONSIDERED. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS ARE IN REASONABLE AGREEMENT WITH THE THEORY. THE THEORY SHOWS THAT IF THE TRACTIVE FORCE ACTING ON A FRONT WHEEL (FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE) IS REDUCED SUDDENLY FROM A LARGE CONSTANT VALUE, THE TURNING RADIUS RAPIDLY DECREASES AND THE STABILITY AND CONTROLLABILITY OF THE VEHICLE LIKEWISE DECREASE. SOME METHODS TO IMPROVE THE STABILITY ARE APPARENT FROM THE EQUATIONS. /BPR/