Modeling ice friction for vehicle dynamics of a bobsled with application in driver evaluation and driving simulation. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schleinitz, Julian von; Wörle, Lukas; Graf, Michael; Schröder, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Tribology international. Volume 165(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Ice Friction -- Bobsleigh -- Driver Evaluation -- Vehicle Dynamics; Tribology -- Periodicals; 621.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2021.107344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-679X

Abstract

Abstract: We provide an ice friction model for vehicle dynamics of a two-man bobsled which can be used for driver evaluation and in a driver-in-the-loop simulator. Longitudinal friction is modeled by combining experimental results with finite element simulations to yield a correlation between contact pressure and friction. To model lateral friction, we collect data from 44 bobsleigh runs using special sensors. Non-linear regression is used to fit a bob-specific one-track vehicle dynamics model to the data. It is applied in driving simulation and enables a novel method for bob driver evaluation. Bob drivers with various levels of experience are investigated. It shows that a similar performance of the top drivers results from different driving styles. Highlights: Development of a bob-suitable vehicle dynamics ice friction model for driving simulation. Analysis and modeling of lateral ice friction which seems to be a research gap in the area of ice friction for wintersports. A novel method for bob driver evaluation using real world measurement data and the proposed ice friction model. Application of the driver evaluation method on a data set containing different drivers showing that a similar overall performance results from different driving styles.