2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
Technical characteristics of cars consist of many parameters that in one way or another influence the choice of brand and model by the future owner. For one, engine power and the size of its working volume are important, for another, safety and comfort issues are priority, for the third, efficiency is paramount. The ability to develop high speed is more often taken into account by those who often travel along highways from city to city.
One of the most important parameters for our fellow citizens is the clearance of cars or, as it is also called, ground clearance (indicated by the letter b in the figure). It is determined simply: the height between the plane of the roadway and the lower protruding part of the bottom (usually a crankcase) is measured. Sometimes other points need to be considered, such as low-lying bumpers and exhaust pipes.
As you know, everything is good in moderation. It is impossible to assume that the more ground clearance, the better. The reason is simple: the higher the clearance of cars, the higher their center of gravity is, and, consequently, the risk of overturning increases. This is especially pronounced at high speeds, when the car, in addition togravity and air resistance, the lifting force begins to act. Flat on the bottom and convex on top, the car behaves like a wing, the air above it is rarefied, and it begins to lift off the road. The grip of the wheels with the ground is deteriorating.
That is why sports car models “fly” so low above the ground, and driving them on our, unfortunately, not always ideal roads is very inconvenient. Overcoming bumps, pits and potholes, you can easily lose some necessary parts and even damage the body.
What should be the clearance of cars in order to minimize the risk of contact of the bottom with the ground, and, consequently, breakage, and at the same time not sacrifice stability? In solving this issue, it is best to focus on domestic brands of cars, the design of which took into account the features of our topography. On "Zhiguli", "Volga" and sunk into oblivion "Muscovites", "Izhi" and "Cossacks". Their ground clearance is in the range of 12-17 cm, which allows you to quite successfully drive on the roads (with the speed allowed by the traffic rules), and get to your native six acres on rollicking primers. It should also be taken into account the fact that a loaded car "crouches" on shock absorbers, which does not at all add patency in difficult areas.
There are also jeeps, which, by definition, should have higher ground clearance. True, not all of them correspond to the proud name"SUV", there are also so-called "SUVs", by analogy with the generals, who have never sniffed gunpowder in their lives. Their formidable appearance and impressive size do not guarantee the ability to overcome obstacles that arise along the way. The clearance of cars of this type is about the same as that of cars, and it is not worth embarking on adventurous trips along unknown roads in these cars. Another thing is a real jeep, the ground clearance of which exceeds 20 cm.
These days, the streets of almost every city are crowded with off-road vehicles of monstrous size, most often purchased for reasons of prestige. It is much wiser to consider the nature of the upcoming trips when buying a car.
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