Kinematic method for roll center analysis of a half-car model with variable wheel tread width

A kinematic analysis method that determines roll center of a planar half-car kinematic model with variable tread width is proposed. For this, a half-car model whose wheels are assumed to be connected to the ground by revolute and prismatic joints are constructed, and instantaneous centers of the wheels with respect to the ground of the model is estimated by poles of the wheels with respect to the ground for small roll displacement. Then, the theorem of three centers is applied to determine the locus of roll center of the half-car model. Using the proposed analysis method, roll displacement of vehicle body, wheel angle variation, wheel contact point variation, and centrodes of relative motion between vehicle body and the ground, which is the locus of roll center, can be calculated.