3 Link Calculator v1.

0 - Vector-Based with Graphical Worksheet Add-In

Vehicle Specifications:
Wheelbase 110.0 in
Tire Diameter 26.00 in
Tire Rolling Radius 12.75 in Created 2004.06.17
Sprung Mass CG 'Z' 22.00 in by
Weight 3,200 lb Dan Barcroft
Suspension Geometry:
Upper Link x y z
Frame End 20.00 -4.00 15.75
Axle End 0.00 -4.00 18.00
Lower Links x y z
Frame End 23.98 24.00 7.50
Axle End -2.00 24.00 7.50
Pannhard Bar x y z
Frame End -8.00 -24.00 13.00
Axle End -8.00 24.00 13.00

-20.00 0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00

Co lumn K
3 Link Calculator v1.0 - Vector-Based with Graphical Worksheet Add-In
= Mess with these cells
 Geometry Summary:
Anti-Squat 40.18 %
in Roll Axis Angle 0.00 degrees ( - roll understeer, + roll oversteer)
in Roll Center Height 13.00 in
Instant Center X-Axis 93.33 in
in Instant Center Z-Axis 7.50 in
in

in
in

-20.00 0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00

Co lumn K
3 Link Calculator v1.0 - Vector-Based with Graphical Worksheet Add-In = Referenced to other cell
Vehicle Specifications:

Wheelbase 110.0 in Sprung Mass CG 'X' n/a in Rear Axle Ratio n/a
Rear Track Width n/a in Sprung Mass CG 'Y' n/a in Axle Shear Strength n/a psi
Tire Diameter 26.00 in Sprung Mass CG 'Z' 22.00 in Axle Shaft Min. Dia. n/a in Created 2004.06.17
Tire Rolling Radius 12.75 in Weight 3,200 lb by
Tire Width n/a in Dan Barcroft

Suspension Geometry:
Upper Link x y z Lower Links x y z
Frame End 20.00 -4.00 15.75 in Frame End 23.98 24.00 7.50 in
Axle End 0.00 -4.00 18.00 in Axle End -2.00 24.00 7.50 in
Vector 20.00 0.00 -2.25 in Vector 25.98 0.00 0.00 in
Link Length 20.1262 in Length 25.9800 in
Unit Vector 0.9937 0.0000 -0.1118 1.0000 Unit Vector 1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000
Intercept Parallel -4.0000 18.0000 in Intercept Parallel 24.0000 7.5000 in
Forces 2285.7143 0.0000 -257.1429 lb Roll Point Parallel 0.0000 7.5000 in
Vertical Slope 0.000 in/in Forces -2742.8571 0.0000 0.0000 lb
Horizontal Slope -0.113 in/in Vertical Slope 0.000 in/in
Horizontal Slope 0.000 in/in

Pannhard Bar x y z
Frame End -8.00 -24.00 13.00 in
Axle End -8.00 24.00 13.00 in
Vector 0.00 -48.00 0.00 in
Link Length 48.0000 in
Unit Vector 0.0000 -1.0000 0.0000 1.0000
Roll Point -8.0000 0.0000 13.0000 in
Forces 0.0000 -29000000.0000 0.0000 lb
Vertical Slope #DIV/0! in/in
Horizontal Slope #DIV/0! in/in
Geometry Summary:
Anti-Squat 40.18 %
Roll Axis Slope 0.000 in/in ("-" = roll understeer; "+" = roll oversteer)
Roll Axis Angle 0.00 degrees ("-" = roll understeer; "+" = roll oversteer)
Roll Center Height 13.00 in
Instant Center X-Axis 93.33 in
Instant Center Z-Axis 7.50 in
3 Link Calculator v1.0 - Vector-Based with Graphical Worksheet Add-In
Material Selection:
Upper Link
Outside Diameter 1.000 in
Wall Thickness 0.120 in Specs-> 29,700,000 Modulus of Elasticity (psi)
Material Used Steel 4130T 110,000 Yield Strength (psi)
Rod End Rated Load 20,000 lb 0.2840 Density (lb/in^3)
Moment of Inertia 0.033 in^4
Area 0.332 in^2
Pyield 36,493 lb
Pbuckling 23,671 lb
Pbending 1,430 lb
Link Length 20.13 in
Link Weight 1.90 lb
Link Force 2,300 lb ("+" because link is in tension)
F.S. Yield 15.87 (This is your link stretching)
F.S. Buckling 10.29 (This is your link buckling under braking)
FS Bending 0.89 (This calculation is somewhat irrelevant for an UPPER link)
F.S. Rod End 8.70 (This is your rod end breaking)
Material Specifications:

Elastic Modulus Yield Density

(psi) Strength (Lbs/in^3)
Alum 2024-T6 10,500,000 50,000 0.1000
Alum 6061-T6 10,000,000 39,900 0.0975
Alum 7075-T6 10,400,000 73,200 0.1020
Steel 1018 29,000,000 50,000 0.2840 Cold Drawn
Steel 4130N 29,700,000 63,100 0.2840 Normalized
Steel 4130T 29,700,000 110,000 0.2840 Water Quenched and Tempered
Steel 4340N 29,700,000 114,000 0.2840 Normalized
Steel 4340T 29,700,000 160,000 0.2840 Oil Quenched & Tempered
Titanium 6Al-4V 16,500,000 128,000 0.1600 6% Aluminum, 4% Vanadium

Note: All materials must be in alphabetical order

rksheet Add-In = Referenced to other cell

Lower Links
Outside Diameter 1.500 in
Wall Thickness 0.120 in Specs-> 29,700,000 Modulus of Elasticity (psi)
Material Used Steel 4130T 110,000 Yield Strength (psi)
Rod End Rated Load 55,000 lb 0.2840 Density (lb/in^3)
Moment of Inertia 0.125 in^4
Area 0.520 in^2
Pyield 57,227 lb
Pbuckling 54,191 lb
Pbending 2,818 lb
Link Length 25.98 in
Link Weight 3.84 lb
Link Force -2,743 lb ("-" because link is in compression)
F.S. Yield 20.86 (This is your link compressing)
F.S. Buckling 19.76 (This is your link buckling under acceleration)
F.S. Bending 1.76 (This is your link bending w/ 1/2 the vehicle weight on it)
F.S. Rod End 20.05 (This is your rod end breaking)
 3 Link Calculator v1.0 - Vector-Based with Graphical Worksheet Add-

Column K

-20.00 0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00

Side View

Front Tire Rear Tire IC Trace Upper

angle x z x z x z
0 110 0 0 0 20.00 15.75
15 106.64 0.31 3.36 0.31 93.33 7.50
30 103.5 1.49 6.5 1.49 IC Trace Lower
45 100.81 3.56 9.19 3.56 x z
60 98.74 6.25 11.26 6.25 23.98 7.50
75 97.44 9.39 12.56 9.39 93.33 7.50
90 97 12.75 13 12.75 Anti-Squat Line
105 97.44 16.11 12.56 16.11 x z
120 98.74 19.25 11.26 19.25 0 0
135 100.81 21.94 9.19 21.94 93.33 7.50
150 103.5 24.01 6.5 24.01 110 8.84
165 106.64 25.31 3.36 25.31 CG Line
180 110 25.75 0 25.75 x z
195 113.36 25.31 -3.36 25.31 -20 22.00
210 116.5 24.01 -6.5 24.01 140 22.00
225 119.19 21.94 -9.19 21.94 100% AS Line
240 121.26 19.25 -11.26 19.25 x z
255 122.56 16.11 -12.56 16.11 0 0
270 123 12.75 -13 12.75 110 22.00
285 122.56 9.39 -12.56 9.39 Roll Axis
300 121.26 6.25 -11.26 6.25 x z
315 119.19 3.56 -9.19 3.56 -8.00 13.00
330 116.5 1.49 -6.5 1.49 0 13.00
345 113.36 0.31 -3.36 0.31 60.00 13.00
360 110 0 0 0
aphical Worksheet Add-In = Referenced to other cell

Column K

60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00

Top View

Offset Up 60.00
Upper Link
x y y'
20.00 -4.00 56.00
0.00 -4.00 56.00
Lower Links 60.00
x y
23.98 24.00 84.00
-2.00 24.00 84.00
23.98 -24.00 36.00
-2.00 -24.00 36.00
IC Trace Lower 60.00
x y
23.98 24.00 84.00
1,000,000.00 0.00 60.00
23.98 -24.00 36.00
Pannhard Bar
x y y'
-8.00 -24.00 36.00
-8.00 0.00 60.00
-8.00 24.00 84.00
3 Link Calculator v1.0 - Vector-Based with Graphical Worksheet Add-In
Revision History
Version Changes / Enhancements
1.0a
1.0b Fixed some cells that were not linked to the Main page.
Updated the Material page for less clutter.
rksheet Add-In

Date
2004.06.16
2005.11.18
= Referenced to other cell