The impact of differential friction on curve negotiation speed

This thesis considers the impact of differential skid resistance between wheel paths on the speed at which a vehicle can safely negotiate a curve. Currently the New Zealand Transport Agency undertakes measurement of the co-efficient of friction on the state highway network by measuring both wheel paths, but taking the average value to represent the level of skid resistance available. Part of the basis for this approach is that modern cars have Electronic Stability Control that has historically been considered to negate the effects of any differential friction. Aside from straight line braking testing, little research has been done on the impacts of differential friction on curves. There are however a number of areas of research that can be related to this topic.By PC Crash simulation modeling, this research identifies that there are a number of gaps in our understanding of the relationship between vehicles maneuvering on a curve and the effect of varying skid resistance. It concludes that taking the average of the two values is not the same as considering them separately and, that as the difference in the co-efficient of friction between the wheel paths increases, the speed at which a vehicle can safely maneuver around a curve decreases. It has also been found that when Electronic Stability Control is used the speed at which the vehicle can safely maneuver around a curve decreases further