Stability and Hopf bifurcation of a nonlinear model for a four-wheel-steering vehicle system

摘要

This paper is to investigate the motion and stability of a four-wheel-steering (4WS) vehicle with the nonlinearity of the lateral tyre forces, and the effects of the steering mechanism are considered as well. A new nonlinear model is developed for the steady state motion of the vehicle. The stability of a typical steady state motion generated by the model is also presented with application of bifurcation method. It is demonstrated in the paper that Hopf bifurcation of the steady state motion of the 4WS vehicle is evident.