MEE 356

MECHANICS OF MACHINES I
MOTIONS OF VEHICLES
BY
PROF. A. S. ADEKUNLE
&
DR. P. O. OMONIYI
 Objectives
• At the end of this section, students should be able to:

• Identify the types of motions of vehicles

• Analyze the motion of a vehicle along a level track when the tractive force passes through

the center of gravity and through a point other than its center of gravity

• Analyze driving of a vehicle

• Analyze the braking of a vehicle

• Analyze motion of vehicles on an inclined plane

2
 Introduction
• Background
• Laws of motion about the force that causes motion of rigid bodies in a straight
line.

• Kinetics of Motion of Rotation

 Types of Motion of Vehicles
• Motion of a vehicle along a level track, when the tractive force passes through
its center of gravity.

• Motion of a vehicle along a level track, when the tractive force passes through
a point, other than its center of gravity
Motion of Vehicle Along a Level Track When the
Tractive Force Pass Through its Center Of Gravity
 Example 1
• An industrial truck of total mass 8 tonnes has two pairs of wheels of 400 mm
radius and each pair with axle has a mass of 1 tonne. The radius of gyration of
each wheel is 300 mm. The axles are 2·4 m apart and centre of gravity of the
truck is mid-way at a height of 1·5 m above the road surface. If the truck is
moving with a tractive force of 5·4 kN, acting through its c.g. Calculate (i)
acceleration of the vehicle ; (ii) frictional resistance ; and (iii) reaction of the
wheels.
Motion of a Vehicle Along a Level Track When the Tractive
Force Passes Through a Point Other Than Its Centre of
Gravity
 Example 2
• A vehicle of mass 1200 kg is moving on a level surface by a tractive force of 1800
N acting horizontally at a height of 0·75 m above the road surface. The centre of
gravity of the vehicle is 1 m above the road surface and midway betweeen front
and rear wheels which are 2·4 m apart. The resistance to motion, at each pair of
wheels, is 1/12 of the corresponding reaction. Find from first principles, the (i)
acceleration of the vehicle and (ii) normal reaction at the front and rear pair of
wheels. Neglect the rotational inertia of the wheel.
 Driving of a Vehicle
• Driving of vehicle by the rear pair of wheels: It is the most common way of
driving the vehicles, in which the rotary motion of the engine is coupled with
the rear pair of wheels only.
• Driving of vehicle by the front pair of wheels: It is a very rare way of driving
the vehicles, in which the rotary motion of the engine is coupled with the front
pair of wheels only.
• Driving of vehicle by both the pair of wheels: It is also a rare way of driving the
vehicles, in which the rotary motion of the engine is coupled with both the pairs
of wheels. This types of driving is, generally, adopted in case of jeeps and
military vehicles, which are used in hilly or difficult areas only.
 Example 3
• A motor car of mass 800 kg has a wheel base of 2·75 m with centre of gravity is
0·85 m above the ground and 1·15 m behind the front axle. Calculate the
maximum possible acceleration of the car, if the coefficient of adhesion
between the tyres and ground is 0.6 and when the car has (i) rear wheel drive;
(ii) front wheel drive ; and (iii) four wheel drive.
 Braking of a Vehicle
• Braking on rear pair of wheels only: It is a common way of braking the vehicle, in
which frictional force acts in the rear pair of wheels only.

• Braking on front pair of wheels only: It is a very rare way of braking the vehicle,
in which the frictional force acts in the front pair of wheels only.

• Braking on both the pair of wheels: It is the most common way of braking the
vehicle, in which the frictional force acts on both the rear and front pair of
wheels.
 Example 4
• An automobile of mass 4000 kg is travelling at 45 km.p.h. on a level road. The
height of centre of gravity of the vehicle is 1·2 m above the road surface and the
distance between the two axles is 2·8 m. The distance of centre of gravity from
the front axle is 1·6 m. Find the distance covered by the automobile in coming to
stop, if brakes are applied on (i) rear pairs of wheels only; (ii) front pair of wheels
only. and (iii) both the pair of wheels. Take resistance to motion by application
of brakes as 20% of the normal reactions.
 Motion of Vehicles on an Inclined Plane
Example 5
• A vehicle of mass 2250 kg having its wheel base of 1·8 m is travelling at 10 m/s
on a rough plane inclined at 10° with the horizontal. The centre of gravity of the
vehicle is 1 m behind the front wheel and 90 cm above the ground. Find the
distance covered by the automobile i to stop and also time taken to do so, when
the brakes are applied on both the pairs of wheels and the vehicle is (i) going up
the plane; and (ii) coming down the plane. Take coefficient of friction offered by
brakes as 0·5.