Title: A wheel model for the study of the wheel angle measurement in the periodic motor vehicle inspection

Authors: V. Diaz, M. Ramirez, B. Munoz

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad No. 30, 28911 Leganes, Madrid, Spain. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad No. 30, 28911 Leganes, Madrid, Spain. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avenida de la Universidad No. 30, 28911 Leganes, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: During periodic motor vehicle inspection, the sideslip tester plays an important role as it enables the checkout of the wheels| alignment. Nevertheless, the system has proven to be inaccurate as it is based on a displacement measure and does not consider the weight of the vehicle acting on the wheel. In this paper, the forces in the wheel plate interface have been studied in order to analyse the real influence of the wheel angles in the final lateral force. Experimental data of wheel forces have been recorded by means of a specially designed force plate as a first attempt to evaluate the range of values obtained in this kind of test.

Keywords: periodic motor vehicle inspection; wheel model; side slip tester; wheel alignment; wheel forces.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2004.003963

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2004 Vol.34 No.3, pp.297 - 308

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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