ARID ZONE JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT AZOJETE, September 2019. Vol. 15(3) 628-637 Published by the Faculty of Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Print ISSN: 1596-2490, Electronic ISSN: 2545-5818 www.azojete.com.ng 638 ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE EFFECT OF NUMBER OF PASSENGERS [LOADING] ON CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF A THREE WHEELED VEHICLE [KEKE-NAPEP] B. Sunday1*, U. Thomas1, I. S. Ityokumbul2, A. Nasir3 (1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, Nigeria 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria) * Corresponding author’s email address: s2bako@yahoo.com ARTICLE INFORMATION Submitted 22 November, 2018 Revised 7 March, 2019 Accepted 10 March, 2019 Keywords: CG Analysis CG of Four Wheeled Vehicle CG of Three wheeled Vehicle Effects of Loading on CG Static Stability Factor ABSTRACT In order to combat insecurity and to reduce the rate of accidents caused by commercial motorcyclist; many States Government in Northern Nigeria have substituted the use of motor cycles commonly known as Okada, with the use of three wheeled vehicle commonly known as keke-napep. The Static and dynamic characteristics of these vehicles are not as those of the usual vehicles. Therefore, the need to know more about the effects loading on these vehicles is highly needed by Nigerians in order to ensure good road and passengers’ safety. This paper uses simple approach to highlight the effects of number of passengers (loading) on the position of Centre of Gravity (CG) of the three wheeled vehicles. It will serve as a measure for ensuring safe riding and reducing road clashes. As the load on the three wheeled vehicle increases from 3505N to 5410N, the Static Stability Factor decreases. This reduces the safety margin against rollover of the three wheeled vehicles compared to those of the four wheeled vehicles. The keke-napep is a rear wheel drive vehicle with rear engine and rear passenger arrangement. It subjects the vehicle to high weight transfer during braking. This causes the change in position of Centre of Gravity and the instability of the three wheeled vehicles. Therefore, it is hereby recommended that the wheelbase, track length, loading space and the Centre of Gravity position should be given a critical consideration during chassis design in order to improve the static and dynamic stability of these vehicles. Also, Components such as the engine and transmission system should be rearranged to obtain a more reliable position of the Centre of Gravity. © 2019 Faculty of Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. All rights reserved. 1.0 Introduction Three wheeled vehicles are automobiles with three wheels; having one or two wheels at the front for steering while the other one(s) for power transmission (Saeedi and Kazemi, 2013). These vehicles are commonly known as: Tuk-tuk in Kenya, Bajaj in Somalia, Tok-tok in Egypt, Rasha in Sudan, Baby Taxi in Bangladesh and Keke-napep in Nigeria. Having one wheel at the front and two at the rear the vehicle is known as the delta configuration. The second type of three wheeled vehicles is called the tadpole or reverse trike which is the opposite of the delta type (Palash et al., 2014). Figure 1 shows the Delta type of three wheeled vehicle commonly use in Nigeria for commercial transportation. The vehicle has many advantages over two wheeled vehicles. They mailto:s2bako@yahoo.com http://www.azojete.com.ng Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, September, 2019; Vol. 15(3):638-647. ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818; www.azojete.com.ng Corresponding author’s e-mail address: s2bako@yahoo.com 639 offer, more comfort, more luggage space, more distance between fill-ups and an increased safety. Having three wheels on the ground, they are naturally more stable than two wheeled vehicles. They combine the comfort and safety of a four wheeled vehicle (car) (Berote et al., 2008). It has the disadvantage of instability compared to four wheeled vehicles. The presence of three wheels indicates that the vehicles would have different static and dynamic characteristics compared to those of other vehicles. This paper shows how the number of passengers (loading) effects the position of Centre of Gravity (CG) of the three wheeled vehicles, thereby affecting its static and dynamic characteristics. One of the crucial vehicle properties is the location of its position of Center of Gravity and if it is properly located, the vehicle would be stable (Starr, 2006)). The Centre of Gravity position of the three wheeled vehicle changes with inclusion of more passengers (Mukherejee, 2007). This happens as the result of loading on the vehicle. Overloading is a safety hazard that has leads to loss of lives, properties and deterioration of our roads which results in increase of maintenance and transportation cost. In the fight against road accident; the Federal Road Safety Commission incorporate campaigns against overloading. This fight can only be successful if the riders and public knows the impact and effects of overloading on the vehicles. This paper tends to highlight the effects of passengers (loading) on the position of Centre of Gravity of the three wheeled vehicles. The concept of this paper would help to educate the riders and the general public on effects of loading on the stability of these vehicles. This would help to monitor the static and dynamic characteristics of these vehicles thereby improving its service life and to ensure good road and passengers’ safety. Figure 1: A Delta Type of Three Wheeled Vehicle Commonly use in Nigeria 2.0 Materials and Method The materials used in this paper are: three wheeled vehicle technical specifications, literatures, Microsoft excel (2007) and AutoCAD (2010) engineering drawing software. Data obtained from the three wheeled specification and literatures were utilized using equations to calculate the position of Centre of Gravity (CG) from; the rear wheel, front wheel and from the roll over lines. The data were also used to calculate the height of the Centre of Gravity from the road surface and Static Stability Factor (SSF) of the three wheeled vehicles under different loading conditions. This was done in order to investigate the effect of number of passengers (loading) on the Centre of Gravity of the three wheeled vehicles. All the calculated results were presented inform of graphs using Microsoft excel (2007) and the results were discussed. The AutoCAD (2010) engineering drawing software was used for drawing purpose to illustrate the position of Centre of Gravity on the three wheeled vehicles. file:///C:/Users/user/Downloads/azojete143/www.azojete.com.ng Sunday, et al: Effect of number of passengers [loading] on centre of gravity of a three wheeled vehicle [keke-napep]. AZOJETE, 15(3):638-647. ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818, www.azojete.com.ng Corresponding author’s e-mail address: s2bako@yahoo.com 640 3.0 Centre of Gravity (CG) Analysis It was noted in Raipput (1991) and Abbott (1984) that the weight of all parts of a body are directed toward the centre of the earth and the point through which all the weights act is called the Centre of Gravity (CG). Palash et al. (2014) and Abbott (1984), also noted that the centrifugal force (CF) is exerted at the Centre of Gravity (CG) and is directed toward the centre (turning point) in order to keep a body moving in a circular path. 3.1 Centre of Gravity Analysis for Four Wheeled Vehicle Consider a four wheeled vehicle as shown in Figure 2 (a). If the vehicle is in a curve towards the left, the Centrifugal Force (CF) tends to roll the vehicle over towards the right, around an imaginary point (black spot under the right tyre in Figure 2 (b)), while the Gravitational Force (GF) holds the vehicle back to avoid rollover. It’s as though the Centrifugal Force and the Gravitational Force combined together into a resulting force exerted on the Center of Gravity to turn it around this imaginary point (Palash et al., 2014). Mukhejee (2007), states that the ratio of half-track width (half the distance of the centre of the two rear tyres) to the height of Centre of Gravity (h) is called the State Stability Factor (SSF), and this plays a crucial role in determining the stability against rollover of a four wheeled vehicle. (a) (b) Figure 2: Position of Centre of Gravity (Developed from; (Palash et al. 2014). (a) Top view of Four Wheeled Vehicle. (b) Rear view of Four wheeled Vehicle. 3.2 Centre Gravity Analysis for Three Wheeled Vehicles In the case of three wheeled vehicles, another factor comes into play; unlike the four wheeled vehicles, their structures are triangular in design. The slant sides from the front wheel to the rear wheel are called the rollover lines. It is observed that the distance between the Center of Gravity and the rollover line (Figure 3 (a)) is shorter than in the case of the four wheeled vehicles, even though the Center of Gravity height (h), the base length (L) and the track (t) of the three wheeled vehicle are the same as those of the four wheeled vehicles. The Center of Gravity height (h) is therefore proportionately greater, which reduces its safety margin against rollover of the three wheeled vehicles in curves. As it was shown for the four wheeled vehicles; they roll over around http://www.azojete.com.ng Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, September, 2019; Vol. 15(3):638-647. ISSN 1596-2490; e-ISSN 2545-5818; www.azojete.com.ng Corresponding author’s e-mail address: s2bako@yahoo.com 641 the rollover line corresponding to the imaginary point. But in the case of a three wheeled vehicle, it rather rolls over around the rollover line going from the single front wheel to one of the two symmetrical rear wheels. (a) (b) Figure 3: Position of Centre of Gravity (Developed from Palash et al., 2014). (a) Top view of Three Wheeled Vehicle. (b). Rear View of Three Wheeled Vehicle. 3.3 Effects Loading on Centre of Gravity (CG) Kenneth et al., (1996) noted that the Centre of Gravity (CG) of a loaded vehicle ‘’A’’ would shift rearward to point ‘’B’’ as shown in Figure 4 (a). As the Center of Gravity (CG) of the four wheeled vehicles shift from ‘A’ to ‘B’ the distance At1 and At2 remains constant (At1=At2). While for the three wheeled vehicles; distance increases (C1