Re: Germanology

[ckuo@sprynet.com]

Scott,

I must have misrepresented my question. I was assuming the same center Torsen - 
front and rear driveline 'traction' concept you are using. I guess my real 
question was this: due to the resulting reduction in 'tractive' torque on the 
rear driveline due to oversteer induced slip angles on the rear tires, can a 
maximum torque shift occur? I don't think it would, but for sure some amount of 
torque shift will occur. I agree with the concept of Osteer-Usteer-Osteer or 
vice versa occuring in the same turn, because the Torsen could bounce 
torque-shift back and forth. I think as a torque shift occurs, the affected set 
of tires and drivetrain will store some energy (like a spring) while loading up 
from the torque shift. Some finite time later, whatever energy is not dissipated 
as heat would be released back towards the Torsen. For sure, a drive tube has 
some behavior as a torsion spring, and the rubber in the tires, well... 
I assume the Torsen model would treat this rebound of energy as a loss of 
traction, and then redirect some value of torque to the opposite drive train. If 
there is insufficient damping in the Torsen-drivetrain-chassis system, voila! 
potential overshoot-oscillatory behavior.

But the real impact to the handling of the car would be how big is the  
amplitude of this torque shift response. If you have some numbers, I'd be 
interested in finding out. I think I'll try some number crunching on my own.

I'd be interested if anybody thinks I'm heading on some wild tangent. I gotta 
stop now, getting carried away with technobuzzwords!

Chauncey Kuo
ckuo@sprynet.com

85 5KS Avant
84 Scirocco II - no neuspeed stickers!
Rossignol Extreme monoski