Vehicle Axle Loads depend on

Hitch loads
Aerodynamic drag
Inertia Force ( a
x
W/g)
Slope/grade ( )
Rolling resistance
Vehicle geometry (towing/towed)
L, c, b, h, h
h,
h
b,
h
a
Fundamental rule of vehicle dynamics

Control forces act on the tires contact patches
(i.e. accelerate, brake, turn)
Find Axle Loads W
r
and W
f
0 cos sin = o = u u + + + + + =
y h hz h hx x A A f A
I Wc Wh d R h R h a
g
W
h D L W M

c W
f

F
xf

R
xf

W
r

F
xr

R
xr

x
z
h
a

D
A

W/g

a
x

Wcos
Wsin
W
h
h

R
hx

R
hz

h
L

d
h

b
A
B
z y z z x x
I M ma F ma F o =

Solving for Axle Load W

f
L Wh
A
h
A
D h
x
a
g
W
L
h
d
hz
R
h
h
hx
R Wb
r
W / ) sin ) ( cos ( u u + + + + + + =
L Wh
A
h
A
D h
x
a
g
W
h
d
hz
R
h
h
hx
R Wc
f
W / ) sin cos ( u u =
Taking moments about point B, we can similarly find W
r
What happens to axle loads for changes in:
1. Grade?
2. Hitchloads?
3. Acceleration?
4. Drag?
Trailer (with boat/ATV/payload) FBD
0 cos ) ( sin = + + + + =

Ab Ab b x
b
h hx b hz b b A
h D h a
g
W
h R f W f e R h W M u u

f
x
z
h
ab

D
Ab

W
b
/g

a
x

W
b
cos
W
b
sin
W
b
h
b
R
xtr

W
t

e
0 sin : = +

A hx b xtr x
b
x
D R W R a
g
W
F u
R
hx

h
h

R
hz

A
Solving the system of eqns
0 cos ) ( sin = + + + + =

Ab Ab b x h hx b hz b b A
h D h a
g
W
h R f W f e R h W M u u
0 sin : = +

A hx xtr x
b
x
D R W R a
g
W
F u
) /( ) cos sin ( f e h D h a
g
W
h R f W h W R
Ab Ab b x h hx b b b hz
+ + + = u u
A xtr x
b
hx
D W R a
g
W
R + + + = u sin
Lets rearrange the equations
To obtain:
Two steps:
1. Calculate R
hx
and R
hz ,
then

2. Substitute R
hx
and R
hz
into axle load formulas for W
r
, W
f

Solve this eqn
first
Gradeability ability to climb grades
Ability to climb is a function of:
Need friction between towing tires and surface
Traction forces = f(, axle weights)
Traction force downhill weight = W
total
sin

Forces in x-direction
r xr
f xf
W F
W F

s
s
x x
a
g
W
grade drag hitch rolling traction F = =

x A hx xr xf xf xr x
a
g
W
sin W D R } R R { } F F { F = + + =

u
Assume no hitch and drag forces, constant velocity, then
x xf xr x
sin W } F F { F u = + =

But remember maximum traction is limited by friction available at surface!

Vehicle towing trailer uphill at constant velocity
) (
4 r f r f xr xf WD
W W W W F F F + s + s + =
FWD
RWD
4WD
u u u sin ) ( sin sin
b b traction
W W W W F + > + >
Let drag, rolling, & inertia forces = 0
direction x in weights trailer vehicle s force traction + > ) ( ) (
Lets do some examples
f xf FWD
W F F s =
r xr RWD
W F F s =
What grade can a vehicle climb?
Friction limited
Power limited
Anything else?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS5b_cuDVhs

First, what is slope and grade?
Grade
% radians degrees Cos() Sin()
2 0.0200 1.15 0.9998 0.0200
4 0.0400 2.29 0.9992 0.0400
6 0.0599 3.43 0.9982 0.0599
8 0.0798 4.57 0.9968 0.0797
10 0.0997 5.71 0.9950 0.0995
15 0.1489 8.53 0.9889 0.1483
20 0.1974 11.31 0.9806 0.1961
40 0.3805 21.80 0.9285 0.3714
60 0.5404 30.96 0.8575 0.5145
80 0.6747 38.66 0.7809 0.6247
100 0.7854 45.00 0.7071 0.7071
Slope,

rise
run
) 100 / ( tan ,
100 (%)
1
grade Angle Grade
run
rise
Grade

=
=
u
) ( sin
....
radians
angles samll for
u u ~
Slope: Angle
Slope: Grade (%)
Vehicle towing trailer uphill at constant velocity
Van/Trailer Axle Loads and Traction Analysis
Van sym mag units
front axle weight Wfs 1520 lbs
rear axle weight Wrs 1150 lbs
total weight W 2670 lbs
Boat/trailer sym mag units
axle weight Wta 1200 lbs
hitch load Fxbs 250 lbs
total weight Wt 1450 lbs
road friction coef. 0.3
slope 20 %
11.31 degrees
u sin ) (
b total
W W F + >
lbs F
F
F
total
total
total
824
) 2 . 0 )( 4120 (
) 2 )(. 1450 2670 (
>
>
+ >
lbs 1320 W
lbs 1495 W
: assume
f
r
~
~
Will a 4WD, FWD or RWD have enough
traction to climb grade?
Which drive will be grade-able?
(4WD, FWD or RWD)
lbs 449 ) 1495 ( 3 . 0 W F F
lbs 396 ) 1320 ( 3 . 0 W F F
lbs 845 lbs ) 2815 ( 3 . 0 F
) W W ( F F F
r xr RWD
f xf FWD
WD 4
r f xr xf WD 4
s s s =
s s s =
s s
+ s + =

Recallforce to overcome. 824 lbs.

FWD and RWD will slip!
Automate calculations with a spreadsheet.

Connect ot course website at:
http://coen.boisestate.edu/reggert/ME485/ME485.htm

Click on GradeabilityS09 (*.xls)

Gradeability (Ford E150 plus ATV and trailer)
ME485/585 Vehicle Design Van and ATV Trailer RJE
Van/Trailer Axle Loads and Traction Analysis
Van sym mag units Total FWD RWD 4WD
front axle weight Wfs 3200 lbs deg rads sin() err% Fxb Fzb Wr Wf Wx Fxf Fxr Fxtot
rear axle weight Wrs 2800 lbs 0 0.000 0.000 0 0 100 2938 3162 0 949 882 1830
total weight W 6000 lbs 1 0.017 0.017 0.0 21 96 2986 3109 126 933 896 1829
CG height h1 28 inches 2 0.035 0.035 0.0 42 92 3033 3055 251 917 910 1826
hitch height h2 14 inches 3 0.052 0.052 0.0 63 88 3079 3001 377 900 924 1824
hitch rear overhang d 23 inches 4 0.070 0.070 0.1 84 84 3124 2945 502 884 937 1821
wheelbase L 60 inches 5 0.087 0.087 0.1 105 80 3168 2889 628 867 950 1817
fr axle to CG b 28.0 inches 6 0.105 0.105 0.2 125 76 3211 2832 753 849 963 1813
rear axle to CG c 32.0 inches 7 0.122 0.122 0.2 146 71 3253 2773 877 832 976 1808
c/L 0.5333 8 0.140 0.139 0.3 167 67 3294 2714 1002 814 988 1803
d/L 0.3833 9 0.157 0.156 0.4 188 63 3334 2655 1126 796 1000 1797
10 0.175 0.174 0.5 208 59 3373 2594 1250 778 1012 1790
Boat/trailer sym mag units 11 0.192 0.191 0.6 229 54 3412 2533 1374 760 1023 1783
axle weight Wta 1100 lbs 12 0.209 0.208 0.7 249 50 3449 2470 1497 741 1035 1776
hitch/tongue load Fxbs 100 lbs 13 0.227 0.225 0.9 270 46 3485 2408 1620 722 1045 1768
total weight Wt 1200 lbs 14 0.244 0.242 1.0 290 42 3520 2344 1742 703 1056 1759
wheelbase Lt 110 inches 15 0.262 0.259 1.2 311 37 3553 2280 1863 684 1066 1750
CG height h3 35 inches 20 0.349 0.342 2.1 410 16 3706 1948 2463 584 1112 1696
f/Lt 0.0833 25 0.436 0.423 3.2 507 -6 3831 1601 3043 480 1149 1629
30 0.524 0.500 4.7 600 -28 3926 1242 3600 373 1178 1550
road friction coef. 0.3
-51.4 -0.896 -0.781 -937 241 -301 4311 -5624 1293 -90 1203
Excess traction force 6918 5534 6827
01/26/09
Grade Hitch loads Axle loads
Traction Forces