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Drivetrain Torque and RPM Calculation

The document outlines the calculations for drivetrain torque and RPM for a vehicle with specific parameters including mass, slope angle, and motor specifications. It details forces acting on the vehicle, including gravitational force, normal reaction force, rolling resistance, and water jet reaction force, leading to the total tractive force required. Additionally, it calculates the required torque per motor, gear ratio, suspension requirements, and extra torque needed for obstacle climbing.

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Pratham Vaghela
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
31 views5 pages

Drivetrain Torque and RPM Calculation

The document outlines the calculations for drivetrain torque and RPM for a vehicle with specific parameters including mass, slope angle, and motor specifications. It details forces acting on the vehicle, including gravitational force, normal reaction force, rolling resistance, and water jet reaction force, leading to the total tractive force required. Additionally, it calculates the required torque per motor, gear ratio, suspension requirements, and extra torque needed for obstacle climbing.

Uploaded by

Pratham Vaghela
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Drivetrain Torque and RPM Calculation

1) System Parameters:

Total vehicle mass = 600 kg


Slope angle = 30 degrees
Number of drive motors = 4
Wheel diameter = 18 inch = 0.457 m
Wheel radius = 0.2286 m
Vehicle speed = 5 km/h = 1.39 m/s
Battery voltage = 48 V
Motor = 6374 BLDC, 150 KV
Tyre ground friction coefficient (wet) = 0.4
Rolling resistance coefficient = 0.03
Water monitor flow rate = 1800 LPM = 0.03 m3/s
Nozzle diameter = 0.063 m
Gravity = 9.81 m/s2

2) Gravitational Force Along the Slope

This is the portion of vehicle weight pulling the robot downward.

Fg = m * g * sin(theta)
Fg = 600 * 9.81 * 0.5
Fg = 2943 N

3) Normal Reaction Force

This is the load pressing wheels onto the ground and defines traction.

N = m * g * cos(theta)
N = 600 * 9.81 * 0.866
N = 5097 N

4) Rolling Resistance
Typical values:

Surface Crr

Hard steel on rail 0.001 – 0.002

Car tyre on asphalt 0.01 – 0.015

Truck / off-road tyre 0.02 – 0.04

Soft soil / sand 0.05 – 0.15


Rolling resistance is taken as a percentage of the normal load.

Frr = Crr * N
Frr = 0.03 * 5097
Frr = 153 N

5) Nozzle Exit Area

Area is required to compute jet velocity.

A = pi * d^2 / 4
A = 3.1416 * 0.063 * 0.063 / 4
A = 0.00312 m2

Flow Rate Conversion

Flow rate must be converted from liters per minute to cubic meters per second for use in physics
equations.

1 cubic meter = 1000 liters

Q = 1800 / 1000 = 1.8 m3 per minute

Convert minutes to seconds.

Q = 1.8 / 60

Q = 0.03 m3/s

6) Water Jet Velocity

Jet velocity equals flow rate divided by exit area.

v=Q/A
v = 0.03 / 0.00312
v = 9.6 m/s

7) Water Monitor Reaction Force

This is the backward thrust created by the water jet.

Fw = rho * Q * v
Fw = 1000 * 0.03 * 9.6
Fw = 288 N

8) Total Tractive Force Required

The drivetrain must overcome gravity, rolling resistance and jet thrust.
Ftotal = Fg + Frr + Fw
Ftotal = 2943 + 153 + 288
Ftotal = 3384 N

9) Maximum Available Traction

This is the highest force wheels can transmit before slipping.

Fmax = mu * N
Fmax = 0.4 * 5097
Fmax = 2039 N

Since Fmax is less than Ftotal, the robot will slip.


Minimum friction required is about 0.66.

10) Total Wheel Torque

If traction is sufficient, torque equals force times wheel radius.

Ttotal = Ftotal * r
Ttotal = 3384 * 0.2286
Ttotal = 774 Nm

11) Torque Per Motor

Load is divided equally among four motors.

Tmotor = Ttotal / 4
Tmotor = 774 / 4
Tmotor = 193.5 Nm

12) Design Torque with Safety Factor

A factor of 1.7 is applied for shocks and inefficiencies.

Tdesign = 193.5 * 1.5


Tdesign = 290.25 Nm ~ 300Nm

13) Wheel RPM Requirement

Wheel circumference determines rotational speed.

C = pi * D
C = 3.1416 * 0.457
C = 1.436 m
RPM = (vehicle speed / circumference) * 60
RPM = (1.39 / 1.436) * 60
RPM = 58

14) Motor RPM and Gear Ratio

Motor speed comes from KV rating and voltage.

Motor RPM = KV * Voltage


Motor RPM = 150 * 48
Motor RPM = 7200 RPM

Gearbox must reduce motor RPM to wheel RPM.

Gear Ratio = Motor RPM / Wheel RPM


Gear Ratio = 7200 / 58
Gear Ratio ≈ 124 : 1

Suspension Requirement Calculation

Static Load Per Wheel

Under uniform distribution, each wheel carries one fourth of the weight.

Total weight = m * g
Total weight = 600 * 9.81
Total weight = 5886 N

Load per wheel = 5886 / 4


Load per wheel = 1472 N

Dynamic Load During Obstacle Climb

During obstacle negotiation, one wheel may see up to 2.5 times the static load.

Dynamic load = 1472 * 2.5


Dynamic load = 3680 N

Required Suspension Travel

Suspension must move at least obstacle height plus reserve.

Travel = 1.4 * 150 mm


Travel = 210 mm
Spring Stiffness

Assuming 30 percent sag under static load.

Sag = 0.3 * 210 = 63 mm = 0.063 m

k = Force / Deflection
k = 1472 / 0.063
k = 23365 N/m

Maximum Spring Force at Full Compression

Fmax spring = k * travel


Fmax spring = 23365 * 0.21
Fmax spring = 4900 N

This is higher than dynamic load, so bottoming out is avoided.

Extra Torque for Step Climb

Wheel must rotate vehicle around obstacle edge.

Lever arm = r - h
Lever arm = 0.2286 - 0.15
Lever arm = 0.0786 m

Torque = dynamic load * lever


Torque = 3680 * 0.0786
Torque = 289 Nm

Common questions

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Torque per motor is calculated by dividing the total wheel torque, Ttotal, by the number of motors. Tmotor = Ttotal / 4. The design torque accounts for potential shocks and inefficiencies; hence, a safety factor, typically 1.7, is used: Tdesign = Tmotor * 1.7. This consideration ensures that motors can handle unforeseen stress without failure, maintaining vehicle reliability .

If the maximum available traction, Fmax = mu * N, is less than the total tractive force needed, the vehicle may lose traction and slip. This is particularly problematic in conditions requiring high force, like climbing slopes or accelerating quickly, where the required force exceeds the grip the tires can provide. It results in inefficiencies and can potentially lead to loss of control .

Sufficient torque is crucial for rotating a vehicle over an obstacle edge, calculated using the lever arm (the difference between wheel radius and obstacle height) and the dynamic load during climbing. Torque = dynamic load * lever, ensuring the wheel can pivot the vehicle around the obstacle without stalling. It's key for maintaining vehicle mobility in rugged terrains .

The gravitational force along a slope is calculated using the formula Fg = m * g * sin(theta), where m is the mass of the vehicle, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and theta is the slope angle. This force is the component of the vehicle's weight that acts to pull it downward along the slope, affecting the vehicle's traction and stability .

Dynamic load during obstacle climbing can reach up to 2.5 times the static load due to sudden changes in the terrain, which places additional stress on the vehicle's suspension. The design must accommodate these peaks, hence requiring suspension travel beyond the static deflection capacity. This ensures the suspension can absorb shocks without bottoming out, maintaining ride stability and comfort .

Spring stiffness, calculated as k = Force / Deflection, determines how much a suspension system compresses under load. Designed for a 30% sag under static load, it ensures enough travel room for absorbing dynamic loads without bottoming out. Proper stiffness is crucial for comfort and control, balancing the needs for handling shocks and providing stability over uneven surfaces .

Normal reaction force is crucial as it determines the load pressing the wheels onto the ground, which directly influences traction. It is calculated as N = m * g * cos(theta), and the traction force a vehicle can sustain without slipping is proportional to this normal force. Insufficient normal force can lead to slipping, as the traction will not be enough to overcome forces acting against the vehicle, such as gravitational pull and rolling resistance .

Rolling resistance affects the total force required to move a vehicle as it acts against movement. It varies with different surfaces, defined as Frr = Crr * N, where Crr is the rolling resistance coefficient and N is the normal reaction force. For example, a car tire on asphalt has a lower rolling resistance than on soft soil, hence requiring less force for the same movement on smoother surfaces, reducing energy consumption .

The gear ratio is determined by dividing the motor RPM by the wheel RPM (Gear Ratio = Motor RPM / Wheel RPM), influenced by motor configuration (KV rating and voltage) and vehicle's operational speed. A higher gear ratio reduces motor RPM to match wheel RPM, allowing for efficient power transfer and aiding in meeting torque demands without overworking the motor, crucial for maintaining desired speed and power distribution .

The flow rate and nozzle diameter affect the vehicle's dynamics by determining the water jet velocity and the resulting reaction force, which is a backward thrust influencing vehicle stability. The jet velocity is v = Q / A, where Q is flow rate and A is nozzle area, calculated as A = pi * d²/4. The reaction force is then Fw = rho * Q * v. A higher velocity from a small nozzle can increase reaction force significantly, affecting traction .

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