Graphical Analysis

Graphical analysis was carried out to compare and illustrate the change of turning
radius with change in other parameters such as slip angle, wheel base and track
width.
Entire analysis has been carried out using MATLAB software.
In the analysis carried out, the following graphs have been plotted and analysed;
For Two Wheel Steering mechanism:1) Turning Radius vs Wheel base
2) Turning Radius vs Track Width
3) Turning Radius vs Inner Slip Angle
For Four Wheel Steering mechanism:1) Turning Radius vs Wheel base
2) Turning Radius vs Track Width
3) Turning Radius vs Inner Slip Angle
During the analysis, the following assumptions were made:1) The centre of mass of vehicle lies at the midpoint of the wheel base along the
axis of vehicle
2) There is no oversteer/understeer of vehicle during turn
3) There are only four variables that affect steering/turning of vehicle. These are
turning radius, wheel base, track width and slip angles
4) While relationship between two variables is being plotted, other variables are
kept constant
5) Track width and wheel base are taken as the same values of Maruti 800
6) Inner slip angle is assumed as 25 degrees.
7) During Four wheel steering, the inner and outer slip angles on both rear and
front wheels are equal in magnitude and opposite in phase

The following notations have been used in the MATLAB programs:R - Turning Radius (in meters)
b Track width (in meters)
L Wheel base (in meters)

Graph 1:Wheel base vs Turning Radius in Four Wheel Steering

Assumptions:1) Inner Slip Angle is constant ( = 25 degrees)
2) Track Width is constant ( = 1.2 meters)
MATLAB Program:L=linspace(1.5,2.5,10);
R=((cot(25*pi/180))/2.*L)+0.6
plot(L,R)
xlabel('Wheel base (in meters)')
ylabel('Turning Radius (in meters)')
title('Wheel base vs Turning Radius when slip angle is constant')

Analysis:-

From graph, we observe that there is a directly proportional relationship

between Turning Radius and Wheel base.
We have assumed dimensions of standard vehicle i.e Maruti 800 in which
Wheel base is 2.175 meters.
The value of Turning Radius corresponding to this Wheel base is 2.932 meters
Increase in wheel base is desired due to aesthetic and ergonomic reasons.
However as demonstrated by graph, excessive wheel base will cause large
turning radius which will lead to difficulty in steering and effective cornering

Graph 2:Wheel base vs Turning Radius in Two Wheel Steering

Assumptions:1) Inner Slip Angle is constant ( = 25 degrees)
2) Track Width is constant ( = 1.2 meters)
MATLAB Program:L=linspace(1.5,2.5,10);
R=sqrt((L/2).^2+5.2643^2);
plot(L,R)
xlabel('Wheel base (in meters)')
ylabel('Turning Radius (in meters)')
title('Wheel base vs Turning Radius keeping Steering Angle constant')

Analysis:-

From graph, we observe that there is a directly proportional relationship

between Turning Radius and Wheel base.
We have assumed dimensions of standard vehicle i.e Maruti 800 in which
Wheel base is 2.175 meters.
The value of Turning Radius corresponding to this Wheel base is 5.375 meters
Increase in wheel base is desired due to aesthetic and ergonomic reasons.
However as demonstrated by graph, excessive wheel base will cause large
turning radius which will lead to difficulty in steering and effective cornering
Comparing the graphs 1 & 2 we see that there is a substantial increase in the
Turning Radius using Four wheel steering and Two wheel steering, from 2.932
meters to 5.375 meters
This represents a 45.45% increase in the Turning Radius while keeping all
other factors constant

Graph 3
Inner Slip Angle vs Turning Radius in Four Wheel Steering
Assumptions:1) Wheel base is constant ( = 2.175 meters)
2) Track width is constant ( = 1.2 meters)
MATLAB program:x=linspace(15*pi/180,35*pi/180,10);
R=0.5*(2.175*(cot(x))+1.2);
plot(x*180/pi,R)
xlabel('Inner Slip Angle (in degrees)')
ylabel('Turning Radius (in meters)')
title('Inner Slip Angle vs Turning Radius keeping Wheel base constant')

Analysis:-

From graph, we observe that there is an inverse relationship with a non-linear

slope between Turning Radius and Inner Slip Angle
We have assumed Inner Slip Angle as 25 degrees
The value of Turning Radius corresponding to this Inner Slip Angle is 2.937
meters
Due to reasons of stability of vehicle during turn, wear of tire etc, the Inner
Slip Angle cannot be reduced indiscriminately in order to reduce Turning
Radius despite inverse relationship between the two
Ideally the Inner Slip Angle should not exceed 35 degrees

Graph 4
Inner Slip Angle vs Turning Radius in Two Wheel Steering
Assumptions:1) Wheel base is constant ( = 2.175 meters)
2) Track width is constant ( = 1.2 meters)
MATLAB program:x=linspace(0,50*pi/180,10);
y=(((1.2/2+2.175*cot(x)).^2)+(2.175/2)^2).^0.5;
plot(x*180/pi,y)
xlabel('Inner Slip angle (in degrees)')
ylabel('Turning Radius (in meters)')
title('Slip Angle vs Turning Radius keeping Wheel base constant')

Analysis:-

From graph, we observe that there is an inverse relationship with a non-linear

slope between Turning Radius and Inner Slip Angle
We have assumed Inner Slip Angle as 25 degrees
The value of Turning Radius corresponding to this Inner Slip Angle is 5.435
meters
Due to reasons of stability of vehicle during turn, wear of tire etc, the Inner
Slip Angle cannot be reduced indiscriminately in order to reduce Turning
Radius despite inverse relationship between the two
Ideally the Inner Slip Angle should not exceed 35 degrees
Analysing and comparing graphs 3 & 4, we observe that there is a marked
increase in the Turning Radius using Four wheel and Two wheel steering from
2.937 meters to 5.435 meters
This corresponds to an increase of 45.96% in the Turning Radius while
keeping all other factors constant

Graph 5

Track width vs Turning Radius in Four Wheel Steering

Assumptions:1) Wheel base is constant ( = 2.175 meters)
2) Inner Slip Angle is constant ( = 25 degrees)
MATLAB Program:b=linspace(0.8,2,10);
R=(cot(25*pi/180))*2.175/2+b/2;
plot(b,R)
xlabel('Track Width (in meters)')
ylabel('Turning Radius (in meters)')
title('Track Width vs Turning Radius keeping Slip angle constant')

Analysis:-

From graph, we observe that there is a directly proportional relationship

between Turning Radius and Track Width
We have assumed dimensions of standard vehicle i.e Maruti 800 in which
Track Width is 1.2 meters.
The value of Turning Radius corresponding to this Track Width is 2.932 meters
Increase in track width is desired due to as it provides greater comfort and
rigidity to vehicle. However as demonstrated by graph, excessive track width
will cause large turning radius which will lead to difficulty in steering and
effective cornering and parking of vehicle

Graph 6

Track width vs Turning Radius in Two Wheel Steering

Assumptions:3) Wheel base is constant ( = 2.175 meters)
4) Inner Slip Angle is constant ( = 25 degrees)
MATLAB Program:b=linspace(0.8,2,10);
R=(((b/2+2.175*cot(25*pi/180)).^2)+(2.175/2)^2).^0.5;
plot(b,R)
xlabel('Track Width (in meters)')
ylabel('Turning Radius (in meters)')
title('Track Width vs Turning Radius keeping Slip angle constant')

Analysis:-

From graph, we observe that there is a directly proportional relationship

between Turning Radius and Track Width
We have assumed dimensions of standard vehicle i.e Maruti 800 in which
Track Width is 1.2 meters.
The value of Turning Radius corresponding to this Track Width is 5.375 meters
Increase in track width is desired due to as it provides greater comfort and
rigidity to vehicle. However as demonstrated by graph, excessive track width
will cause large turning radius which will lead to difficulty in steering and
effective cornering and parking of vehicle
On comparison of graphs 5 & 6, we see that there is a significant increase in
Turning Radius in Four wheel steering and Two wheel steering, from 2.932
meters to 5.375 meters
This implies an increase to the order of 45.45% in Turning Radius keeping
other factors constant

Conclusions of Graphical Analysis:-

1) There was a huge decrease in the Turning Radius of vehicle, taking all other
factors and variables into account, while converting vehicles steering
mechanism from a Two Wheel Steer to a Four Wheel Steer
2) By graphical analysis, we have determined this decrease in Turning Radius to
be 45.45%
3) Turning Radius had been reduced from 5.375 meters in Two Wheel Steer to
2.932 meters in For Wheel Steer
4) We have also observed the various relationships between Turning Radius and
other factors, such as;
a) Wheel base (direct relationship)
b) Inner Slip Angle (inverse relationship)
c) Track width (direct relationship)