THE DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR OF A MOTORCYCLE WHEN RUNNING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND WHEN CORNERING

The stationary and non-stationary behaviour of a running motorcycle provided with a passive rider has been modelled. The non-linear model, which is suitable to describe situations with large values of the mean banking angle (roll angle), features eleven degrees of freedom (one of which being the forward speed which has been kept stationary throughout this study). The behaviour of the system has been described relative to a moving system of axes. Regarding the permitted translatory and rotary motion of this system of axes position and attitude in space are not relevant; thus the order of the system is reduced by two. Stationary aerodynamic forces have been included. The tyre behaviour has been described by non-linear algebraic equations and first-order differential equations. The description of the non-stationary behaviour of the system has been linearized about a trim condition, which represents the stationary situation either when running straight ahead or when cornering. This trim condition is determined by the value of the chosen input parameters (stationary roll angle and forward speed) together with the non-linear model describing the stationary situation. The stationary behaviour of the baseline model has been calculated, presented and interpreted. This has also been done extensively for the non-stationary behaviour. The eigenmotions have been calculated for a range of trim conditions and presented in the form of root-loci, supplemented by the mode shape information implied in the eigenvectors. A graphical presentation technique has been developed and employed to visualize the latter: with the aid of computer graphics at small intervals, sequential in time, images are being generated of a structure, representing a single-track-vehicle with a rider. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Delft University Press

  11 Mijnbouwplein
  Delft,   Netherlands 
• Authors:
  • Koenen, C
• Publication Date: 1983-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 166 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Behavior; Curvature; Differential equations; Digital computers; Driving; Dynamics; Handling characteristics; Highway curves; Mathematical models; Motor vehicles; Motorcycles; Nonlinear equations; Speed; Tires; Traffic speed; Turning traffic; Vehicle dynamics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Turning movements
• ITRD Terms: 5492: Aerodynamics; 9001: Behaviour; 2872: Bend (road); 2870: Degree of curvature; 8673: Digital computer; 5473: Dynamics; 6473: Mathematical model; 1221: Motorcycle; 5408: Speed; 1381: Tyre; 1646: Vehicle handling
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386572
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM