calculate castor force?

[Bevans6]

Is there a way to calculate or predict the self-centering effect of castor? My vehicle in question is a bus, castor is set at 2.7 degrees, wheel/tire weighs roughly 250 lbs and tire OD is 42". I am wondering what the scale of self-centering force is, and how one would describe it?

thanks, Brian

 

[GregLocock]

Yes there is, but you need to know a lot more than the numbers you gave.

Basically figure out all the forces at the contact patch, and where they are applied, and then resolve those forces into a torque around the steering axis.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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