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Questions regarding Cornering Stiffness for RC Car

Engineering Asked by user14808 on June 16, 2021

I am a bachelor’s level student tasked with modeling the vehicle dynamics of an RC Car that will be made to drive autonomously. I lack prior experience or particularly specific education with vehicle dynamics so I have been studying the field a bit, particularly Vehicle Dynamics and Control by Rajesh Rajamani. By advice from a supervisor I will not be using the Pacejka Magic Formula. I think I have a good enough idea of the problem and how to approach it but I’ve hit a wall quite badly regarding the parameter ‘Cornering stiffness’. As I understand this is a property of the tires, and something that I would find on data sheets on tires. However in my case the tires are considerably more simple, they’re just solid rubber rings around the wheels. I have tried to read up on Cornering Stiffness to see if I can determine it myself somehow but I haven’t really found anything I’ve understood.

So, how should I go about determining the cornering stiffness? Otherwise, considering the shape of these tires are there any assumptions I can make that would simplify the model?

One Answer

Cornering stiffness is usually measured on Force And Moment Machine (for example: https://www.smithersrapra.com/testing-services/by-sector/automotive/tire-testing/force-and-moment). Basically, the tire is in contact with a moving surface --either a flat track or a large drum-- which drives the tire at a particular speed under a particular load. Then the turn angle changes and sensors measure the lateral forces as a function of turn angle.

This is expensive, specialized equipment; probably not easily available to a university. But you could approximate something by pulling the tire behind a vehicle and measuring the lateral forces. Still not easy, though.

If the tires are not steel belted, there is a very old book which had formulas for these things, Mechanics of Pneumatic Tires, edited by Samuel Clark.

Answered by Chris K8NVH on June 16, 2021

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