Analysis of the Impact of Maneuver Type and Changes in Stiffness and Damping of Pneumatic Wheels on Steering Effort

The article presents the results of research on the steering effort involved in performing two different maneuvers. One of them was a turning maneuver and the other was a double lane change maneuver. These are typical road maneuvers that result from various traffic situations. During the experiment, the torque acting on the steering wheel, the vehicle speed, and the lateral acceleration values generated during movement were recorded. The object of the study was a light bus equipped with a hydraulic power steering system. Road tests were conducted for three vehicle speeds and four different tire pressures, and the shock absorption properties of the wheels were determined based on performance charts. The tests carried out (cornering maneuver and double lane change) and the values recorded during their implementation, such as vehicle speed, lateral acceleration, steering angle, and steering torque, made it possible to determine the relationship between steering effort and the energy (elasticdamping) properties of the wheels of the tested car.