3766. Mass Properties and Automotive Braking

Paper

Abstract

In 1984, for the 43rd Annual International Conference of the SAWE, this author presented Paper Number 1634, “Mass Properties and Automotive Longitudinal Acceleration”. In that paper the effects upon automotive acceleration of varying the relevant mass property parameters were explored by use of a computer simulation. The computer simulation of automotive longitudinal acceleration allowed for the study of each individual parameter because a simulation allows for the decoupling of the parameters in a way that is not possible physically. The principal mass property parameters involved were the vehicle weight and rotating component inertias, collectively known as the “effective mass”, plus the longitudinal and vertical coordinates of the vehicle center of gravity.
However, just as it is important for a vehicle to be able to accelerate, it is perhaps even more important for a vehicle to be able to decelerate. The same mass properties that were relevant to the matter of automotive acceleration are also relevant to the matter of automotive deceleration, a.k.a. braking, although for the braking case that collective of vehicle translational inertia and rotational component inertias known as the “effective mass” requires somewhat different handling. As was the case with automotive acceleration, automotive braking will be explored by use of a computer simulation whereby the effect of variation of each of the mass property parameters can be studied independently. However, this task is considerably easier as the creation of a braking simulation is a minor effort compared to the creation of an acceleration simulation.
Rev B – 2023