ABSTRACT
When a vehicle executes a turn, the vehicle experiences a centripetal force in accordance to the following:
F
= mv
/R = m
ω
R (i)
where F
= centripetal force due to rotational motion, R = turning radius, v = tangential velocity of vehicle, i.e., forward speed of vehicle, m = mass of the vehicle, and
ω
= angular velocity. When the centripetal force on the vehicle is significant, it can cause the
vehicle to either slip off the roadway or turn over. If the centripetal force is less than is required to cause the vehicle to turn over, but more than the sideways frictional force of the tires, it will slide. Ignoring turnover for the moment, a slide will occur when:
F
≥
F
(ii)
where F
= centrifugal force and F
= sideways frictional force. Appropriate substitution into Equation (ii) above gives the following:
mv
/R
≥
Wf (iii)
v
/(gR)
≥
f or v
≥
[gRf]
where f = coefficient of friction, g = gravitational constant, and W = weight of vehicle.
