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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R85488/01
Title: Nonlinear dynamics and modal interaction in motorcycle cornering weave and wheel patter
Principal Investigator: Popov, Professor A
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Mech Materials Manuf Eng Mgt
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 July 2002 Ends: 30 June 2005 Value (£): 133,916
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Eng. Dynamics & Tribology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The dynamics of motorcycle and rider presents a variety of instability phenomena which are not currently understood. The behaviour in cornering under steady state and transient conditions can lead to complex modal interaction between rider, frame and tyres: the most interesting and challenging among the observed motions are cornering weave and wheel patter. It is proposed to apply recent methods and ideas of nonlinear dynamics and bifurcation theory in order to reveal and understand the phenomena in motorcycle/rider systems under typical end extreme cornering manoeuvres. Existing detailed models, studied at present mostly by methods of linear analysis, will be employed and adapted to the procedures of nonlinear bifurcation analysis. It is intended to apply a more accurate tyre model and to include elements of preview control in the rider's behaviour. Typical solutions together with their stability, bifurcations, domains of attraction and dependence on control parameters will be studied by numerical continuation methods of bifurcation analysis. In the vicinity of a bifurcation point the dynamics will be reduced to the essential modes by the central manifold theory, and the implication of this reduction for the modelling of motorcycle and rider will be studied. The aim of the project is to explain and quantify the mechanisms of energy transfer between modes and modal coupling in cornering weave and wheel patter, to validate models of nonlinear behaviour of motorcycles, to study design features, and to prepare recommendation for future theoretical modelling, based on a detailed and comprehensive set of numerical results.
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Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk