Developments in On-Centre Steering Evaluation and Testing

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">Traditionally on-centre steering has been evaluated by a sine wave steering input through-centre. This method is widely used to characterise the on-centre steering characteristics of vehicles. Although it enables a wide range of key parameters to be quantified such as on-centre stiffness and hysteresis, the test does not encompass how the vehicle responds when an input is made from or returning to the straight running condition.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The objective of this study was to propose additional on-centre evaluation methods that would include the response of the car from straight ahead running. A range of vehicles were then tested in accordance with these methods using a combined IMU/GPS system.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The data from this testing was analysed to determine what measures might be useful in quantifying the response of a vehicle from straight ahead running. Then using the data obtained from this group of vehicles provide reference information on the upper and lower limits of these measures.</div>