GYROSCOPIC ANALYSIS IN TWO WHEELERS

[T.V.S XL SUPER AND YAMAHA RX 100]

By,
L.M.Lakshmanan (03P620) & P.Rajiv (03P632).
Key words:
Gyroscopic precession, Angle of heel, Curve radius, Balancing couple, angle
level setter and magnetometer, skidding
Abstract:
In the present global scenario two wheelers has become part of our life and their
accidents too. The stability of the two wheeler taking a turn is a major factor which
prevents accidents where the gyroscopic effect plays a vital role. The spinning wheels
must store up the energy first and it is how quickly the riders need to turn the handle bars
and to make him lower the speed, at which the gyroscopic precession kicks in. A case
study of gyroscopic analysis in TVS XL SUPER and YAMAHA RX 100 is done and its
aspects corresponding to its stability are analyzed. The turning angles were practically
experimented at a different curve radius and also at various speeds in different road
conditions using angle level setter and magnetometer. The gyroscopic couple , angular
velocity of precession and balancing couple due to moment of weight of this vehicles are
determined and analyzed .Thus the paper infer how to increase the basic principle of
stability, the tire conditions and the angle of heal of these vehicles. It also includes the
safety measures the rider has to follow at different road conditions. The analysis also
infers the balancing couple of these vehicles which tends to undergo skidding or more
tilting which disrupts the rider from his balancing position. These results help the riders
to understand the importance of gyroscopic stability while riding on the roads.

1.0 Introduction:
If a body revolves about OX Axis and if a couple, called Gyroscopic couple
Is applied along OY Axis, the body tries to precess about OZ Axis This is called
GYROSCOPIC EFFECT The planes of spin, Gyroscopic couple and precession are
mutually perpendicular. The direction of the precession is such that the axis of spin tends
to place itself in line with the axis of applied torque, that is Gyroscopic Torque and in the
same sense. Gyroscopic Precession is the tendency of the rapidly spinning object to
resist being tilted. Gyro means very stable. In a motor cycle turning of the handle bars
left will force the bike to lean to the right, as if pushed by an invisible force, due to
gyroscopic precession of the rapidly spinning front wheel. The faster the wheels are
spinning or quicker the handle bars are turned the greater is the invisible force trying to
push the vehicle.

1.1 Objectives of the paper:

The objective of the paper is to study and analyze the gyroscopic effect in
TVS XL SUPER & YAMAHA RX 100.The case study is performed in three types of
roads. The curve radius at which the vehicle takes the turn at different velocities and
angle of heel is found out .The gyroscopic couple, angular velocity of precession,
balancing couple due to moment of weights are determined .From which the factor of
safety for stability of the vehicles at different road conditions are analyzed. By changing
the tire conditions of these vehicles, the gyroscopic stability has increased to a greater
extent.
1.2 Methodology:
The turning angle was practically found out and experimented at a different curve radius
and also at various speeds
The magnetometer is employed for calibrating the angle of the heel at the turn and
further verified by the Angle Level Setter which has the features like,

Double annular gradations are provided for preventing visual reading error

The pointer rotates in the hydraulic oil for stable precise and error free reading,

even to a differential sub graduation of less than one degree.

The analysis was restricted to
TVS XL Super
YAMAHA RX 100
The parameters included have been found out practically to provide a real time solution..
In this analysis of gyroscopic stability acting on the vehicle has been zoomed out to wider
version.
The following cases have been taken into account for the analysis:
Case 1: The motion of the vehicle in plain tar road
Case 2: The motion of the vehicle in highways road
Case 3: The motion of the vehicle in muddy tar road.
The gyroscopic couple IS codes have been taken into account in the analysis report.
2.0 Literature Survey:
2.1 Gyroscopic forces and techniques:
When a body moves along the curved path with uniform linear velocity, a force in
the direction of Centripetal Acceleration (known as Centripetal Force) has to be
applied externally over the body, so that it moves along the required current path.
This external force applied is known as Active Force.
When a body itself is moving with uniform linear velocity along a circular path it
is subjected to the Centrifugal Force radially outwards. The Centrifugal Force is
called Reactive Force
The action of the Reactive or Centrifugal Force is to tilt or move the body along
radially outward direction.
Hanging off is an impressive technique utilized by racers and Leaning In can
also be used on the street to help steer the bike in high lean angle situations.

It is especially useful when ground clearance is at premium such when a rider

needs to tighten his turn suddenly.

2.2 Stability of two wheel vehicle taking a turn:

2.3 Parameters to be considered:

The surface of the road is subjected to irregularities

Weight reaction of the rider to the vehicle

The gripness of the tires

The wind energy acting on the rider during the turning

The obstacles encountered during the motion of the vehicle which contributes
much to the speed reduction of the motion of the vehicle

The pulling power of the engine which according to the vehicle varies with
respect to period on time.

The wear and tear of the tire due to continuous motion.

The pressure of air enclosed in the tire

At the moment of turning the normal reaction acting on the tire when in

contact

with the surface of the road

3.0 Experimental Methodology:
3.1 Practically Measured Data:
The following data were obtained by using an angle level setter. The values
obtained are as follows

Measured Data:
TVS XL SUPER

YAMAHA RX 100

Case 1: Plain Tar Road (=0.49)

Case 1: Plain Tar Road (=0.49)

Curve
radius in m
1.59

Velocity in
Km/hr
10

Curve
radius in m
2.81

2.35

20

2.5

4.08

30

4.83

40

10

road (=0.23)

Angle
Of heel
1

Velocity in
Km/hr
10

2.75

20

4.18

30

5.32

Highways

Angle
Of heel
2

3.45

20

4.65

30

15

6.76

40

20

Curve
radius in m
2.80

Angle
Of heel
1

40
Curve
radius in m
50

12.5 in
Velocity
Km/hr
16

0.80

15

Case
Angle
Of heel

3:

Velocity
Km/hr
10

in

20

4.78

30

17

6.74

40

19

7.20

50

22

tar road (=0.72)

3:

Muddy tar road (=0.72)

Curve
radius in m

1.89
Velocity in
Km/hr

25

0.60

15

0.64

25

Angle
Of heel

Angle
Of heel
2

3.42

Muddy
Case

2:

in

Case 2: Highways road (=0.23)

Curve
radius in m
1.47

5.23

Case

Velocity
Km/hr
10

Calculation:
To calculate the gyroscopic stability of the vehicles, the following are some of the
main factors,
Gyroscopic Couple = ( v2/crg) x [ (Is+GIf) Cos ]
Angular Velocity of Precession = v / c
Balancing Couple due to Moment of Weight = W * h * Sin
where,
h Centre of gravity of the vehicle and the rider combined above the ground level
r Radius of the wheels
R Radius of track or curvature
Is Mass moment of inertia of each Wheel
If - Mass moment of inertia of Engine
G Gear Ratio =f / s
v Linear velocity = r *
4.0 Results:
4.1 Inference from replacing Tires:
In order to get low ground clearance and co-efficient of friction between the tire
and the road, the gripness of the tires where increased with new ground clearance and
coefficient of friction. As a result the stability of the vehicle as increased to a greater
extent than the existing one. As a result of this analysis we can conclude that the wheel
rim as to be modified with minimum number of spokes as the weight reaction of the rider
as well as the vehicle plays a vital role in the stability of the vehicle while taking a turn.
4.2 Comparative Study:
The following are the results which were obtained between YAMAHA RX 100
and TVS XL SUPER at different road conditions,

TVS XL SUPER

YAMAHA RX 100

Case 1: Plain Tar Road

Turning

Gyro

Angular

Balancing

Turning

Gyro

Angular

Balancing

Angle 0

Couple

Velocity

Couple

Angle 0

Couple

Velocity

Couple

2
6
15
20

0.794
2.779
5.131
6.108

0.985
1.608
1.791
1.643

8.660
17.190
64.227
84.874

Gyro

Angular

Balancing

Couple

Velocity

Couple

0.797
2.795
4.9408
6.164
8.8308

0.989
1.662
1.742
1.648
1.927

8.660
17.191
72.553
80.791
92.960

Gyro

Angular

Balancing

Couple

Velocity

Couple

6.291
7.933

5.2
3.671

4.330
17.310

Case 2:
1
1.021
2.5
2.774
8
3.567
10
5.327
Highways road

1.7421
2.361
2.04
2.30

3.276
8.1890
26.128
32.60

Turning

Gyro

Angular

Balancing

Angle 0

Couple

Velocity

Couple

1
4
7
12.5
16

1.1048
2.366
3.489
4.880
7.375

1.8843
2.018
1.99
2.124
2.609

3.276
13.095
22.76
40.63
51.74

Turning
Angle

2
6
17
19
22

Case 3: Muddy tar road

Turning
Angle 0
1
3

Gyro
Couple
6.104
15.912

Angular
Velocity
2.496
10.84

Balancing
Couple
3.276
9.825

Turning
Angle
1
4

4.3 Graphical Analysis

Model graph between velocity and turning angle for YAMAHA RX 100 and a
model graph between Balancing couple and Gyroscopic Couple for TVS XL SUPER are
shown below,

Inference:
FOR RX 100
Turning Angle linearly varies with velocity of the vehicle with a safe factor of 25
km/hr
TVS XL SUPER
The variation between gyroscopic couple and balancing couple coincides with
each other hence it is concluded that, there is a direct variation related to each other is
analyzed. The factor of Safety is 40 km/hr
5.0 Conclusion
It has been inferred from the analysis that whenever the velocity rises, the
precession angle also varies correspondingly. The gyroscopic couple is directly related as
a main factor for the stability of the vehicles during its turn and prevents skidding. The
change in angular motion of both vehicles show the same changes with respect to the
vehicles velocity. The road surface roughness, tire gripness, speed of the engine act as the
major factors in the Gyroscopic Effect. When the rider exceeds the safety measure in
different types of loads, he is tending to undergo skidding or more tilting which disrupts
the rider from his balancing position. These results help the riders to understand the
importance of gyroscopic stability while riding on the roads. As a result of this analysis
we can conclude that the wheel rim as to be modified with minimum number of spokes as
the weight reaction of the rider as well as the vehicle plays an vital role in the stability of
the vehicle while taking a turn. Thus, it is concluded that the stability of the vehicles lies
under the entity of gyroscopic effect acting over it.
REFERENCES:

1. V.Selladurai, Mohan Das Gandhi, Shanthi, Technical Inputs for Improving the
Satbility in two wheelers Design Technology Today, August 2000 pp 3-6.
2. Monan. R, Nandhagopalan C, Basics of Gyroscopic Principle, IE Journal,
May 1998, pp 13- 18.
3. Khurmi S Theory of Machines, S.Chand May 2001.
4. Ram Krishna General Properites of Matter, Tata Mc Graw Hill 1994.
5. SAE Manual on Selection of Tires.
6. R. C. Creese, S. Guleyupoglu, Gyroscopic Analysis in Racing Vehicles,
International Journal of Vehicle Design.