Narrow-track vehicle explained
A narrow-track vehicle is a vehicle that leaves a narrow ground track as it moves forward. Narrow-track vehicles may have lateral stability when stationary but usually lean into turns to prevent falling towards the outside.[1] [2]
Narrow-track vehicles have unique dynamics that, in the case of wheeled vehicles, may be similar to bicycle and motorcycle dynamics and that may include countersteering.[3] Narrow-track vehicles can roll on wheels, slide, float, or hydroplane. The narrow profile can result in reduced aerodynamic drag, increased fuel efficiency, and reduced pavement requirements.[4] [5] These types of vehicles have also been described as "man-wide vehicles" (MWV).[4]
Generally, cars with a static stability factor (
where
= car width and
= height of the center of gravity) of less than 0.6 are considered to be narrow cars due to physical reasons.
[6] Non-narrow vehicles (those with a higher static stability factor) are more safe against rolling over while turning because they begin to
skid before they can undergo enough turning acceleration to roll over; however, this is not always true for narrow vehicles.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Narrow track vehicles - the convergence of the car and the motorcycle. Mike Hanlon. November 19, 2009. New Atlas. 2018-11-21.
- 10.1051/matecconf/20165101002. Rollover Dynamics of a Narrow Tilting Three-Wheeled Vehicle. J Jubin Antonya . K Jayabal. International Conference on Mechanical, Manufacturing, Modeling and Mechatronics. 2016. free.
- Steering Dynamics of Tilting Narrow Track Vehicle with Passive Front Wheel Design. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 744. 012218 . Jeffrey Too Chuan Tan . Hiroki Arakawa . Yoshihiro Suda. 2016. 1 . 10.1088/1742-6596/744/1/012218. 2016JPhCS.744a2218T . free.
- Web site: The dynamic behaviour of man-wide vehicles with an automatic active tilting mechanism. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181112181626/https://repository.tudelft.nl/view/tno/uuid:fe1f237a-a6a5-44c6-acfa-f2d533c8ed99. Pauwelussen, J.P.. 1999. TUDelft. 2018-11-12 . 2018-11-12 .
- Web site: Narrow Track Cars Being Touted As Solution To California's Road Congestion. Macy Jenkins. February 20, 2018 . CBS Broadcasting Inc.. 2018-11-21.
- Book: Tang, Chen . Narrow Tilting Vehicles: Mechanism, Dynamics, and Control . Khajepour . Amir . 2019 . Springer International Publishing . 978-3-031-00373-8 . Synthesis Lectures on Advances in Automotive Technology . Cham . en . 10.1007/978-3-031-01501-4.
