A combined use of phase plane and handling diagram method to study the influence of tyre and vehicle characteristics on stability

This paper deals with in-curve vehicle lateral behaviour and is aimed to find out which vehicle physical characteristics affect significantly its stability. Two different analytical methods, one numerical (phase plane) and the other graphical (handling diagram) are discussed. The numerical model refers to the complete quadricycle, while the graphical one refers to a bicycle model. Both models take into account lateral load transfers and nonlinear Pacejka tyre–road interactions. The influence of centre of mass longitudinal position, tyre cornering stiffness and front/rear roll stiffness ratio on vehicle stability are analysed. The presented results are in good agreement with theoretical expectations about the above parameters influence, and show how some physical characteristics behave as saddle-node bifurcation parameters.