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Effect of Drivetrain Configuration on Handling Characteristics of Tadpole Type Three-Wheeler


Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085, India
     

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The world’s first automobile built by Karl Benz was powered by a single-cylinder four-stroke engine which was placed at the rear part of the three-wheeled chassis. Since then, the automobile industry has drastically evolved, especially four wheelers. Nowadays, three-wheelers are gaining popularity as they are more fuel efficient than four-wheelers while being more stable than twowheelers. The inherent cost advantages of a threewheeler also make them more affordable. Autorickshaws, having delta configuration, are extensively utilized in several Asian countries like India, Indonesia, Pakistan and others. But they are risky during braking in a turn due to a single front wheel. Alternatively, a tadpole type three-wheeler is safer in braking in a turn and provides better steering control. This three-wheeler configuration also provides better aerodynamic design. They have been recently adopted in European countries for personal mobility and logistics. Therefore, the paper analyses the stability of a Tadpole type three-wheeler based on various standard simulation tests such as Constant Radius test, Acceleration test and Double Lane Change test. These tests provide various results such as Steering Angle, Understeer behaviour and Longitudinal Acceleration where information regarding handling characteristics can be studied. A comparison between Front Wheel Drive and Rear Wheel Drive configuration is carried out to arrive at a conclusion for selecting the right drivetrain configuration. In order to achieve this, a Multibody Dynamics model is created using MSC Adams Car by assembling the various subsystems namely Front Suspension, Rear Suspension, Steering, Brakes, Body, Powertrain and Tires. Simulation results have been compared with existing literature for the verification of the model.

Keywords

3-wheeler, Tadpole configuration, MSC Adams Car, FWD, RWD, Tadpole Threewheeler, CRC Simulation, drivetrain
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  • Rao, S., Sidhu, A., Johnson, M., Marquette, B., Heydinger, G., & Guenther, D. (2011, January). Model based study of stability limits for three wheeled vehicles using ADAMS/car. In ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (Vol. 54952, pp. 243-252).

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  • Effect of Drivetrain Configuration on Handling Characteristics of Tadpole Type Three-Wheeler

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Authors

Nishanth Krishna
Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085
Raj Purohit
Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085, India
Rohit JS
Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085, India
Avasarala Venkata Srivatsa
Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085, India
Sharanbassappa S Patil
Department of Mechanical Engineering, PES University, Outer Ring Rd, Banashankari 3rd Stage, Banashankari, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560085, India

Abstract


The world’s first automobile built by Karl Benz was powered by a single-cylinder four-stroke engine which was placed at the rear part of the three-wheeled chassis. Since then, the automobile industry has drastically evolved, especially four wheelers. Nowadays, three-wheelers are gaining popularity as they are more fuel efficient than four-wheelers while being more stable than twowheelers. The inherent cost advantages of a threewheeler also make them more affordable. Autorickshaws, having delta configuration, are extensively utilized in several Asian countries like India, Indonesia, Pakistan and others. But they are risky during braking in a turn due to a single front wheel. Alternatively, a tadpole type three-wheeler is safer in braking in a turn and provides better steering control. This three-wheeler configuration also provides better aerodynamic design. They have been recently adopted in European countries for personal mobility and logistics. Therefore, the paper analyses the stability of a Tadpole type three-wheeler based on various standard simulation tests such as Constant Radius test, Acceleration test and Double Lane Change test. These tests provide various results such as Steering Angle, Understeer behaviour and Longitudinal Acceleration where information regarding handling characteristics can be studied. A comparison between Front Wheel Drive and Rear Wheel Drive configuration is carried out to arrive at a conclusion for selecting the right drivetrain configuration. In order to achieve this, a Multibody Dynamics model is created using MSC Adams Car by assembling the various subsystems namely Front Suspension, Rear Suspension, Steering, Brakes, Body, Powertrain and Tires. Simulation results have been compared with existing literature for the verification of the model.

Keywords


3-wheeler, Tadpole configuration, MSC Adams Car, FWD, RWD, Tadpole Threewheeler, CRC Simulation, drivetrain

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.37285/ajmt.3.2.6