Title: Sensitivity of a vehicle's yaw rate response: application to a three-axle truck

Authors: M. El-Gindy, E.C. Mikulcik

Addresses: Centre for Surface Transportation Technology, National Research Council of Canada, U-89 Alert Road, Uplands, Ottawa, Canada. ' The University of Calgary, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Calgary, Canada

Abstract: The present paper deals with evaluating the sensitivity of the yaw rate response of a single unit vehicle to sinusoidal steering input. The frequency response method and sensitivity analysis are applied. In order to discuss the influence of varying a baseline vehicle|s operational and design parameters on its sensitivity to change its directional behaviour, and to decide the most effective parameters to which the vehicle is highly sensitive to their variations, the sensitivity equations of a vehicle|s yaw rate amplitude ratio and phase angle are derived for each vehicle parameter at different speeds, steering input frequency, and vehicle loading condition (loaded versus empty). The prime objective of this paper is to provide vehicle control systems designers, especially IVHS engineers, with important frequency-domain information for a clear understanding of the yaw rate sensitivity to the variation of a vehicle|s basic parameters. The first order standard and logarithmic sensitivity functions are derived in the frequency-domain and their applications are demonstrated for a three-axle straight truck.

Keywords: cornering stiffness; equations of motion; first order sensitivity functions; second order sensitivity functions; frequency response; mass; moment of inertia; phase lag; vehicle speed; yaw rate transfer function; aw rate response; three-axle trucks; sinusoidal steering; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1993.061842

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1993 Vol.14 No.4, pp.325 - 352

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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