Numerical and Experimental Approaches to Investigate the Stability of a Motorcycle Vehicle

The study of motorcycle’s stability is an important task for the passenger’s safety. The range of frequencies involved for the handling stability is lower than 10 Hz. A numerical model was developed to access the stability of a motorcycle vehicle in this frequency range. The stability is analysed using a linearized model around the straight steady state condition. In this condition, the vehicle’s vertical and longitudinal motion are decoupled, hence the model has only four degrees of freedom (steering angle, yaw angle, roll angle and lateral translation), while longitudinal motion is imposed. The stability was studied increasing the longitudinal speed. The input of the model can be either a driver input manoeuvre (roll angle) or a transversal component of road input able to excite the vibration modes. The driver is introduced in the model as a steering torque that allows the vehicle to follow a reference trajectory. To validate the model, experimental tests were done. To excite the vehicle modes, the driver input was not taken into account considering both the danger for the driver and the repeatability of the manoeuvre. Two different vehicle configurations were tested: vehicle 1 is a motorcycle [7] and vehicle 2 is a scooter. Through the use of the validated model, a sensitivity analysis was done changing structural (for example normal trail, steering angle, mass) and non structural parameters (for example longitudinal speed).