A lateral dynamics of a wheelchair: identification and analysis of tire parameters.

In vehicle dynamics studies, the tire behaviour plays an important role in planar motion of the vehicle. Therefore, a correct representation of tire is a necessity. This paper describes a mathematical model for wheelchair tire based on the Magic Formula model. This model is widely used to represent forces and moments between the tire and the ground; however some experimental parameters must be determined. The purpose of this work is to identify the tire parameters for the wheelchair tire model, implementing them in a dynamic model of the wheelchair. For this, we developed an experimental test rig to measure the tires parameters for the lateral dynamics of a wheelchair. This dynamic model was made using a multi-body software and the wheelchair behaviour was analysed and discussed according to the tire parameters. The result of this work is one step further towards the understanding of wheelchair dynamics.

Measurement of wheelchair contact force with a low cost bench test.

In mechanical engineering, it is well established that contact between the tire and the ground is a key parameter in characterizing the dynamic behavior of vehicles and an important factor in design control. Therefore, it is an important part of dynamic simulation models for vehicles, including wheelchairs. This work presents a bench test designed to experimentally monitor and measure the forces transmitted to the ground by a moving wheel. The test bench is composed of a table and a track with a fixed wheel structure and powertrain system. The table is an integrated structure that measures the longitudinal and lateral forces produced by tire contact. This table allows characterization of the tire and tests the tire under varying loads at different slip and camber angles. Additionally, the test bench can also be used to evaluate other tires, such as caster tires. The performances of the new device are illustrated, and the results show the differences between tires, which are related to the dynamic behaviors of wheelchair model. Finally, preliminary experiments performed using the test bench have shown that it is able to monitor and measure the forces generated by the contact between the tire and the ground.

Respiratory mechanics and lung histology in normal rats anesthetized with sevoflurane.

Respiratory system, lung, and chest wall mechanical properties were subdivided into their resistive, elastic, and viscoelastic/inhomogeneous components in normal rats, to define the sites of action of sevoflurane. In addition, we aimed to determine the extent to which pretreatment with atropine modified these parameters. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups of six animals each: in the P group, rats were sedated (diazepam) and anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium; in the S group, sevoflurane was administered; in the AP and AS groups, atropine was injected 20 min before sedation/anesthesia with pentobarbital and sevoflurane, respectively. Sevoflurane increased lung viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressures and static elastance compared with rats belonging to the P group. In AS rats, lung static elastance increased in relation to the AP group. In conclusion, sevoflurane anesthesia acted not at the airway level but at the lung periphery, stiffening lung tissues and increasing mechanical inhomogeneities. These findings were supported by the histological demonstration of increased areas of alveolar collapse and hyperinflation. The pretreatment with atropine reduced central and peripheral airway secretion, thus lessening lung inhomogeneities.