ingThie

Axle and Steering System

Wheel
base,

(Instantaneous center)
- Wheel track

Fig, 5.16 Correct steering angle

Turning radius refers to the smallest circle that the
outer front wheel can trace.
" Thus, larger the steering angle, smaller is the
turning radius.
Practically, steering angle can have a maximum value of 44 degrees.
. The extreme positions on either side of the
steering is termed as 'lock' positions.
" As seen in Fig. 5.16, for correct steering conditions

cot = y+e
b

cot = cot 0+

cot - cot 0
...(Equation 5.1)
This (equation 5.1) refers to the basic condition for steering
rolling of all wheels. mechanism for perfect

5- 21 Automobile Engineering
 510SteerngMechanism
conditions, alI wheels need to be
IGTU Hirt
schieve
Tooadsurtace
the
perfect

takinga
steering

rurm,the
inner
wheelsneed1to perte y
tum by a greater
t

Thus,while
Outerwheels. steering mechanism :
two main
achievedby
can be
" This steering
mechanism
() Davis steering
mechanism
Ackemann sliding joints that
(m)
mechanism employs require regular
" Davis
" and
steering
calibration.
Ackermmann steering mechanism on the other hand, employs all ball jonts maint
working.
are much simpler in the most
" Hence.
Ackermann steering mechanism 1s
mechanism in automobiles.
widely used stee
Mechanism IS (GTU :
5.10.1 Ackermann Steering Summer-19,
" It is the most widely used steering
mechanism. Wintar-ts
" It has 2 ball joints.
Refer Fig. 5.17 for outline of Ackermann steering.

Fig. 5.17 Outline of Rear axle

Ackermann steering mechanism
 The links RA and SB are integral with the stub axles.
Let T be the length of link RA and SB, e l at

r be the length of tie rod link AB.

g be the angle that the link RA and SB make with the vehicle centerline
when the wheels are pointing straight ahcad.
The solid
line configuration is for vehicle moving straight ahead.
The dotted line configuration is for vehicle taking a left turn when seen for back.
Ae for perfect steering condition, the link RA has to turn by a larger angle than
linkSB.
Refer Fig. 5.5.18 for enlarged view of Ackermann steering.
S

e of
> the
B
Y X c-in

Fig. 5.18 Enlarged view of Ackermann steering selt

sat

Let link RA rotate by angle and link SB rotate by angle .

e
>

Then,

sin (a +0) = y+x (Equation 5.2)

sin (a ) = (Equation 5.3)

Adding (equation 5.2) and (equation 5.3), we get,

sin (a. +0 )+ sin (a - ) = 2y

sin(a + 0)+ sin (oa - 0) = 2sin . (Equation 5.4)

Thus (equation 5.4) represents the basic conditions for perfect steering in
Ackermann mechanism.
5- 23 Automobile Engineering
 Axle Sem
steering
three positions for perfect
mechanism gives only
This
When =0
() turning lef
particular angle when
(ii) One turning right
particular angle when
(iii) One steering angles also
This mechanismn gives close approximations for other

Understeer and
Oversteer IS (GTU : Winter-17,20, Summer-18,201
5.11

Understeer :
wheels outward
While taking a turn the centrifugal forces tends to throw the
When the slip angle of the front wheels is greater than those of the rear wheels.
the turning radius is increased.
This means the vehicle will turn less sharply than it should for a particular rotation
of steering wheel.

It also means that the vehicle tends to move away from its normal direction of
motion.

Hence, the driver needs to steer a little more than is theoretically needed.
This condition is referred to as understeer.
Refer Fig. 5.19 for understeer condition.
Slip angle

Centre of rotation with slip angle = 0°

Fig. 5.19 Understeer condition

5-24 Automobile Engineering

aliercorm

Axle and Steering 8ystem

Oversteer:
. When the slip angle of the front wheels is less than that of the rear wheels, the
turning radius is reduced.
This means that the vehicle will tum more sharply than it should for a particular
rotation of steering wheel.
It also means that the vehicle tends to move inwards from its normmal direction of

motion.
..ene the driver needs to steer a little less than is theoretically needed.
This condition is referred to as oversteer.
. Refer Fig. 5.20 for oversteer condition.

Slip angle

L Centre of rotation with slip angle = 0°

Fig. 5.20 Oversteer condition

of the
Oversteer is highly undesirable because the driver tends to loose control
vehicle.
positively in
" Understeer is relatively less undesirable because the driver can reacts
the condition and continue with further steering wheel rotation.
understeer conditions at
" Hence generally, the vehicles are designed to provide
normal speeds.
understeer and oversteer
" Refer Fig. 5.21 for vehicle negotiating a turn in
conditions.

Automobile Engineering
5-25
 ZiVing a slight

Axle and | Steering

Systam

(a) Understeer

(b) Oversteer

Fig. 5.21 Vehicle steering

5.11.1 Steering Ratio
" It is the ratio of the angle turmed by the steering wheel to the corresponding
turning angles of the stub axle.
To apply a full lock of 45° each way on the front wheels, an
average overall ratio
usually gives about one and a half complete turns of the steering wheel to each
side of mid - piston.
The steering ratios generally used with the present day
about 12:1 for cars to about 35:1 for heavy vehicles. steering gears vary from
5.12 Center Point Steering
Refer Fig. 5.22 for steering axis inclination.
The driving force acts along the
steering axis.
These forces result in pulling of the vehicle
The wheel on the other hand has
forward.
wheel resistance to be overcome.
" If the steering axis
and wheel axis are parallel and at
would cause the front wheels to open 90° to the font axle. it
outward.

5- 26
Automobile Enginoering
 Axle and Steerdng Systom
the wheel center is away Vertical asis
Further, since
causes the Steering asis
fom the ball jonts center, it Inclination
about the
wheels to turn through an arc Steering axis
vertical
hall joints instead of its own
center.

ball joints are

. Hence, the whcel and the
tilted in opposite directions.
. By tilting the wheel outwards at the top
and the king pin inwards at the top, the
radius of arc reduces substantially.
When the vehicle takes a turn, the
steering axis inclination causes the vehicle
body to move up relative to the wheels.
. After completion of the turn and the
Fig. 5.22 Steering axis inclination
steering wheel left free, the vehicle
weight pushes the vehicle body downwards and tends to return the wheels to the
straight ahead position.
This in-built tendency to return the wheels to normal straight position is called as
Center Point Steering'.

5.13 Cornering Force

" When the vehicle is taking a
turn, centrifugal force acts on Path of
Slip rolling tire
the wheels and tends to throw angle
the wheels outward.
. This outwards force is termed
as side thrust.
The side thrust causes the
distortion of flexible tyre and
Contact
results in change in the angle patch
of wheel plane.
" Refer Fig. 5.23 for distortion
of wheel plane.

Fig. 5.23 Distortion of wheel plane

5-27 Automobile Engineering
 outwards while the steering
the
wheels tyre.
inks tends
to throw distortionof
thrust tends resulting in the side
The side
the wheels
inwards
has to turn to sustain thrust is
called
to hold wheel plane
bywhich the
The angle effect of side thrust is
as sllp sngle. produced to
counter the called as
that is
The force
cornering force. cornering force.
slip angle and
for
Refer Fig. 5.24
Direction
of
motion
Slipangle

ForCocernering Pntraeiul,mXatic Side thrust

Fig 5.24 Slip angle and cornering force

The value of slip angle depends on the flexibility of tyre, the side thrust, vehicle
load, camber angle and condition of road surafce.
Hence, at low speed, the side thrust is low and slip angle is smaller.

At very high speeds, the slip angle is large and the tyre tends to skid on the road
surface.

The value of cornering force depends mainly on the slip angle, the inflation
pressure and the tyre load.
Fig. 5.25 shows the variation of cornering force with
these factors.

5- 28 Automobile Engineering
14 Serng LHages

or Vence wt ROt rot SSSoT

Saering Lmkag

Sein whe

Sng alum