Features of rolling of the elastic wheel with inclination to the road

Abstract

The results of the study of the inclined elastic wheel motion along a curvilinear trajectory on a road with a high adhesion coefficient are presented. The elastic wheel is considered as an integral mechanism, which includes a hard rim, an elastic tire body (pneumatic) and a large tire contact patch. The analysis of previously conducted research has shown that during the elastic wheel movement along a curved trajectory, the wheel rim rotates simultaneously and its lateral shift relative to the tire contact. The disc turning causes the tire body torsion, and lateral shift causes the wheel to roll with the slip angle. The tire body torsion angle in absolute value is equal to the slip angle, and their values depend on the trajectory curvature, the longitudinal axis of tire contact patch and the adhesion presence in it. It is established that during the movement of the elastic wheel with an inclination to the road along a curved trajectory, the phenomena occurring in the pneumatics during the movement along a curvilinear trajectory are additionally superimposed by the phenomena caused by rolling of the wheel with an inclination which at a constant trajectory of the elastic wheel cause a change in the tire torsion angle and the lateral rim shift relatively to the tire contact patch. The direction of the wheel inclination relative to the trajectory center is essential, and the obtained dependences allow to determine the value of the tire torsion angle and lateral shift when the wheel moves with an inclination to the road along a curved trajectory. The concept of "equivalent" radius of the elastic wheel trajectory curvature is introduced, which determines the conventional radius of the trajectory with which the wheel would move without inclination to the road, but with the tire torsion angle and the rim lateral shift considering the influence of the wheel inclination on the tire torsion angle and the rim lateral shift. The dependences for determining the inclinations of the steered wheels pivots, which minimize the vehicle steered wheels tires rolling resistance and wear.

The results of the research may be useful to experts working to improve the wheeled vehicles serviceability, including maneuverability, handling and stability.

Key words: inclination angle, elastic wheel, tire contact patch, "reduced" radius of curvature, lateral shift, pivot inclination angles.