Rollover Analysis of a Tricycle Using CarSim

Tricycles, prevailing in Asian countries, have attractiveness such as lightweight, low cost, small turning radius and high loading capacity, but have the disadvantage being easy to rollover at the time of cornering. In the case of a tricycle with one wheel in the front and two wheels in the back, even if the rear track is expanded, the anti-rollover effect is small if the center of gravity is not close to the rear axle. The analyzed tricycle model has the typical specifications with maximum seven occupants. First, the simple rollover threshold estimation and the roll angle calculation for tricycle are introduced modified from the ones for four-wheeled vehicle. Under the disadvantageous specifications against rollover, the rollover thresholds are calculated, considering the relationship of the contribution of several parameters not only the dimensions but also number of occupants. And CarSim, a vehicle dynamics simulation software, is employed to simulate rollover during a steady state turn and a braking in a turn. The calculation results give a few suggestions for avoiding rollover.