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Re: Interesting findings on the internet
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 8:48 am
by tggzzz
AVGresponding wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 1:13 am
Zenith wrote: ↑Fri Jan 02, 2026 11:48 am
AVGresponding wrote: ↑Fri Jan 02, 2026 9:50 am
You'd expect the angle on the bus to be larger in any case, due to compression of the suspension on the loaded side
Then maybe the slope was tilted at 28 degrees necessary for the test, but the bus was just on the verge of toppling and was at 35 degrees because the suspension was compressed as you suggested. Very impressive anyway.
Yeah it's quite visually disturbing to see, and somewhat counter-intuitive. It would be instructive to see where the actual centre of mass is.
At the point of toppling the CoM is vertically above the downside wheel. If you estimate the relative mass of the engine and superstructure you can make a guess at how far above.
Re: Interesting findings on the internet
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:03 am
by Zenith
The bus will be roughly symmetrical viewed end on. If you imagine the bus tilted in the other direction the CoM will be directly above the driver side wheel at the point of toppling. The point where the perpendiculars from the two wheels cross, I estimate to be slightly above the radiator cap. The CoM of the bus would be on that axis. That seems reasonable as a lot of the mass of the bus would be engine, chassis, transmission, wheels and seats below that point.
Re: Interesting findings on the internet
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:24 am
by tggzzz
Zenith wrote: ↑Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:03 am
The bus will be roughly symmetrical viewed end on. If you imagine the bus tilted in the other direction the CoM will be directly above the driver side wheel at the point of toppling. The point where the perpendiculars from the two wheels cross, I estimate to be slightly above the radiator cap. The CoM of the bus would be on that axis. That seems reasonable as a lot of the mass of the bus would be engine, chassis, transmission, wheels and seats below that point.
Irritating: I should have thought of that!
Re: Interesting findings on the internet
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 12:19 pm
by AVGresponding
More modern buses will have an even lower centre of mass. The engine and gearbox package in particular is normally mounted very low down in the rear nowadays.