Ackerman
Ackerman
copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:17 PM
2006-01-3638
Allan Staniforth
Terrapin Racing Services
Ian Scott
Megapin Racing
Motorsports Engineering Conference & Exhibition Dearborn, Michigan December 5-7, 2006
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001 U.S.A. Tel: (724) 776-4841 Fax: (724) 776-0790 Web: www.sae.org
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:17 PM
The Engineering Meetings Board has approved this paper for publication. It has successfully completed SAE's peer review process under the supervision of the session organizer. This process requires a minimum of three (3) reviews by industry experts. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE. For permission and licensing requests contact: SAE Permissions 400 Commonwealth Drive Warrendale, PA 15096-0001-USA Email: [email protected] Tel: 724-772-4028 Fax: 724-776-3036
For multiple print copies contact: SAE Customer Service Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada) Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA) Fax: 724-776-0790 Email: [email protected] ISSN 0148-7191 Copyright 2006 SAE International Positions and opinions advanced in this paper are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of SAE. The author is solely responsible for the content of the paper. A process is available by which discussions will be printed with the paper if it is published in SAE Transactions. Persons wishing to submit papers to be considered for presentation or publication by SAE should send the manuscript or a 300 word abstract to Secretary, Engineering Meetings Board, SAE. Printed in USA
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:17 PM
2006-01-3638
Allan Staniforth
Terrapin Racing Services
Ian Scott
Megapin Racing
ABSTRACT
Ackermann steering geometry relates the steer angle of an inside tire to that of the outside tire. When turning the inside tire travels a shorter radius than the outside tire and thus must have a greater steer angle to avoid tire scrub. Classic Ackermann minimizes scrub by positioning both tires perpendicular to the turn center. It can have a significant impact on tire wear [1]. Ackermann analysis can also be used as a tuning tool in cases where classic Ackermann may not be the objective. Ackermann has been around longer than the motor vehicle - over a century - but there is little rigorous analysis in the literature. There are two common measurements of Ackermann which give very different results. Both are used in texts and computer programs[8] Yet a literature search revealed only a couple sentences discussing the relationship between the two. This paper presents a mathematical analysis of Ackermann which explains the two measurements and develops a formula relating the two metrics. It also derives additional analytical tools which provide better understanding of Ackermann steering geometry.
ACKERMANN ANALYSIS
The standard formula for classic Ackermann involves track and wheelbase. The formula can be improved by considering the effect of scrub radius. The proper formula involves the distance between kingpin axiss rather than track. The relationship between steering input and steering angle is key to understanding Ackermann. The first and second derivatives of this function provide a formula for classic Ackermann. This formula is a metric for measuring Ackermann in any situation. The angle between the steering arm and the tie-rod in plan view is more important than the angle of the steering arm alone. This can be shown by the formula described above. The Jeantaud diagram projects the steering arms to an intersection. If those lines intersect near the rear axle it is assumed to represent classic Ackermann. But this convenient graphical representation is only an approximation. It neglects the important contribution of the steering tie-rod. The Jeantaud diagram can be enhanced to include the steering tie-rod and produce an accurate representation of classic Ackermann.
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:17 PM
because perfect implies a desirable trait whereas classic is more neutral. To avoid tire scrub when a vehicle is turning draw perpendicular lines from all four tires. If the perpendiculars from the front tires intersect along the lines drawn from the unsteered rear tires (Figure 1) then you have classic Ackermann for one steering angle. This is expressed mathematically as Netsteer = -Right2 * Track / Wheelbase Where Right is the steer angle of the loaded tire.
MEASURING ACKERMANN
The literature discusses 100% Ackermann without really discussing values other than 100% and 0% or parallel steer. Just what is 50% Ackermann? The simplest, and most natural, definition is shown below:
Formula 1 is the best measurement of Netsteer or Ackermann percentage. An alternative measure is based on the turn center projection. If the turn center projects to the midpoint of the chassis, or 50% of the wheelbase, the inside wheel is turned more than the classic value. This suggests the Ackermann percentage should be 200% in Figure 1:
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
Formula 2 is an approximation of Netsteer or Ackermann percentage. This method is less meaningful but it does illustrate the relationship between Ackermann and wheelbase. Trucks are often sold with different wheelbase depending upon application [1]. But unless the steering system is changed with each wheelbase the Ackermann steering will differ.
With a vertical kingpin axis, the tire contact patch moves fore-aft a distance equivalent to the scrub radius multiplied by the sine of the steer angle. We can express this in algebra, with the details available from the primary author [9].
2 Netsteer = -Right * Tk / Wheelbase
Where Right is the steer angle of the loaded tire and Tk is the distance between the kingpin axiss. Having done the necessary algebra, the same conclusion can be drawn geometrically. The perpendicular to the tire drawn from the tire contact patch goes through the original axle line near the steering axis. It would go through the steering axis if the castor trail were zero. At this point we can adjust the classic formula by replacing the track T with the distance between the kingpin axis, which we call Tk. Bird [10] uses kingpin location as an input to his computer programs which calculate Ackermann angles for heavy trucks.
Figure 2: Ackermann Turn Centers In Figure 2 above, the outside tire has an angle of 15 degrees. For classic Ackermann the inside tire has a steer angle of 18.031 degrees and a Netsteer of -3.031 degrees. For the other case the inside tire has a steer angle of 22.521 degrees and a Netsteer of 7.521 degrees. The TurnCenter projection is at 50% of the wheelbase yielding an Ackermann percentage of 200%. The ratio of Netsteer is -7.521 / -3.031 = 2.481 or 248.1%. The ratio of netsteer values is the best metric of partial Ackermann.
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
Trucks and oval track racing cars sometimes have a single tie-rod connecting both steering arms. This system can be modeled by placing the inner tie-rod points on the centerline of the car. This approximation is valid for small angles. We will also ignore static toesteer. Theoretical discussion of Ackermann assumes a static steer angle of zero when the vehicle is not turning. In reality most vehicles run a static steer angle for stability, either toe-in or toe-out. We will assume the designer desires the same angles in a turn. This is equivalent to ignoring static toe-in or toe-out and assuming the vehicle has zero steer when running straight.
steering arm/spindle/wheel/tire rotates about the steering axis, also known as the kingpin axis. The steering projection is a line from the kingpin axis through the steering arm at a constant height. If the steering projection is parallel to the centerline of the car then the left and right steer angles will be identical and there will be 0% Ackermann. But if the steering projection is at an angle then the inside and outside tires follow a different portion of the circle and asymmetric steer results. By carefully selecting angles we can manipulate the resulting Ackermann. If the steering tie-rod were infinitely long (mathematical concept) or very long (engineering concept) this would be the only source of Ackermann. But since tie-rods are of finite length they represent a second source of circular motion. As the tire rotates the angle of the tie-rod, as seen in plan view, must change as the outer tie-rod point moves longitudinally. The primary motion is laterally, but there is a secondary movement longitudinally, and Ackermann is a secondorder effect
SOURCES OF ACKERMANN
Ackermann comes from the difference between circular motion and linear motion. The steering input moves linearly while the
TIE-ROD LENGTH
Tie-rod length must be considered in Ackermann analysis. When the tie-rod length is equal to the offset of the steering
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
arm, as in Figure 4, and the steering arm is aimed at the center of the rear-axle, provides a case where both Ackermann calculations are at 100%. The easiest way to understand the effect of tie-rod length is to consider a front steer case where the tie-rod length is equal to the steering arm offset, as in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Front steer example where a short tie-rod produces 0% Ackermann This example shows a virtual steering arm parallel to the vehicle centerline. The steering movement is symmetric and this would suggest zero Ackermann, and that is exactly what it produces.
Figure 6 The Ackermann Formula The actual mathematical results and the derivation are available from the primary author.
/ TieY) then f/f = tan( ArmAngle + TieAngle ) When TieX is small Deriv2b disappears and Deriv2c approaches ArmY2 / TieY. When TieX=0 and TieY = ArmY Deriv2c is -ArmY2 / TieY = -ArmY which is also Deriv1a. Thus the steering arm the tie rod each contribute 50% and we achieve 100% classic Ackermann.
RESULTS OF CALCULUS
Based on the geometric relationship [11] tan( x + y ) = tan( x ) + tan( y ) / (1 - tan(x) * tan(y)). If we ignore the term TanArm (ArmY
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
Since the ratio ArmY/TieY does not change when we rotate the mechanism, this term is proportional to Tan(Arm). Nothing else changes
CASTER ANGLE
The above formula was derived assuming the Caster and Kingpin angles are zero. This assumption allows the situation to be modeled in a two-dimensional plane. If we permit a non-zero caster angle we can construct a reference plane perpendicular to the kingpin axis and going through the steering arm tie-rod point. The steering tierod inner point still moves in this plane.
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
Then the above derivation applies except for the assumption that a steer angle of x degrees is represented by the same angle in the reference plane. This is a small correction. When we deal with larger steering angles this correction is dwarfed by other factors.
KINGPIN ANGLE
When the kingpin angle is not zero, we can still construct a reference plane perpendicular to the kingpin axis and going through the steering arm tie-rod point. But in this case the inner mount of the tie-rod no longer travels in the reference plane. This introduces other factors, but with the small kingpin angles usually used the correction should be small.
Figure 8 Geometric display of the Enhanced Jeantaud diagram Then construct lines from the kingpin axis through this new point. The intersection of these lines should be near the center of the vehicle for classic Ackermann. Rear steer example:
Enhanced Jeantaud - Front Steer, 1 degree Offset 3.3 inches Enhanced Ackermann Tierod 3.3 inches 100.081 100.112 6.6 inches 75.072 75.054 9.9 inches 66.724 66.705 13.2 inches 62.549 62.531 27.7 inches 55.989 55.978
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
That is very good agreement. If you reduce the steering angle to 0.1 degree the differences disappear.
CONCLUSIONS
This paper should enhance understanding of Ackermann steering geometry. 1. It creates a way to measure Ackermann. The ratio of Actual to Classic netsteer is the most natural metric. 2. The derivation of a Ackermann Formula presents a useful analytical tool with each derivative term having a simple geometrical representation. 3. The angle of the steering arm is the primary factor, but the tie-rod angle and length play a significant role in Ackermann. However, the Arm-to-Tie-rod angle is a better predictor of Ackermann than the angle of the steering arm. 4. The Enhanced Jeantaud diagram is accurate when the tie-rods run cross-car. This is an accurate metric with geometric understanding but it must be aimed at the middle of the car, not the rear axle.
ASYMMETRIC SUSPENSIONS
Oval track racing involves asymmetric suspensions. The analysis here refers to symmetric suspensions because the asymmetric case offers too many opportunities to create Netsteer. One of the easiest is to shorten the length of the inside steering arm. This works just fine as long as the car only turns one direction. It the car must turn the opposite direction, perhaps to avoid an accident, it yields anti Ackermann. But the Ackermann formula provides a metric for Ackermann. If we calculate the metric for each side and then average the values, the result is a useful indicator of combined Ackermann. A combination of 150% Ackermann on the right and 50% on the left yields 99.28% Ackermann. One example is hardly proof but it suggests this idea merits further investigation.
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39
Licensed to Michigan Technological University Licensed from the SAE Digital Library Copyright 2011 SAE International E-mailing, copying and internet posting are prohibited Downloaded Wednesday, March 16, 2011 1:21:18 PM
Kinematics
and
Ackermann is significant at large steer angles, for instance inner-city trucks at full lock. But large steer angles are rare in motor sports. If we consider a 6-degree steer angle, the difference between parallel steer and 100% classic Ackermann is 0.4 degrees. Measured as a length this is 5 mm or 3/8 of an inch. The difference between 90% Ackermann and 100% (0.5 mm or 1/16 inch) is much less than the precision available on setup.
this paper were discovered numerically and then verified with paper and pencil. Scientific papers usually begin with theory and proceed to numeric verification. The actual intellectual process may not follow the traditional pattern. Several of the most significant developments were made while preparing the SAE paper. The rigor required for publication can lead to additional breakthroughs and understanding. The Enhanced Jeantaud diagram was discovered after the initial draft had been reviewed.
PROCESS
Most of the mathematical relationships in [8] WinGeo3 suspension geometry program, Wm. C. Mitchell Software, Mooresville, NC
REFERENCES
[1] The Effect of Ackerman Steering Correction Upon Front Tire Wear of Medium Duty Trucks, Gerald R. Miller, SAE 861975 [2] Vehicle and Engine Technology, Heinz Heisler, 2nd edition, Arnold (1999) Arnold is a member of Hodder Headline Group, London [3] Tyres, Suspension and Handling, John C. Dixon, Cambridge University Press (1991) [4] Tires, Suspension and Handling, second edition, John C. Dixon, Society of Automotive Engineers (1996) [5] Race Car Vehicle Dynamics, William F Milliken and Douglas L. Milliken, SAE (1995) Chapter 19. Much of the material in this section resulted from detailed conversations with Terry Satchell. [6] Fundamentals of Vehicle Dynamics, Thomas D. Gillespie, SAE (1992) [7] Optimum Ackerman for Improved Steering Axle Tire Wear on Trucks Gerald Miller, Robert Reed and Fred Wheeler, SAE 912693 [9] WinSteer steering analysis program, Wm. C. Mitchell Software, Mooresville, NC [10] Ackerman Computer Programs for Heavy Truck Front Axles Charles E. Bird, SAE 942302 [11] Standard Mathematical Tables, 12 edition, Chemical Rubber Publishing Company, 1961
th
[12] Allan Staniforth, Race Tech magazine, Issue #30 June/July 2000. [13] Heavenly Angles, Erik Zapletal, Race Car Engineering, Volume 11 No. 6, June 2001 [14] Running adrift, Erik Zapletal, Race Car Engineering, Volume No 7, July 2001 [15] Coarse Angling, Erik Zapletal, Race Car Engineering, Volume 11 No 8, August 2001
CONTACT
Wm. C. Mitchell Software, 125 East Plaza Drive Suite 117, Mooresville, NC 28115 USA. 800-844-7296 from USA and Canada 704-660-0330 voice 704-663-0085 fax www.MitchellSoftware.com
Author:Gilligan-SID:11395-GUID:46824618-141.219.44.39