Now I'm confused...
> Assuming that energy stored in the sway
> bar didn't change we come to a conclusion
> that torques had to be redistributed.
> The only way to compensate for this change
> is to change forces acting on the tires...
> Torques would redistribute differently if
> we shorten opposite end...
Most people assume the loads coming into an anti-roll bar come in from one of the ends. Actually, loads come into the anti-roll bar from the center and both ends react to it (at the exact same time), thus creating the twisting load (torque) on the anti-roll bar. This load is introducd via the sprung weight rolling in reaction to centripedal force from a corner. This sprung weight cannot differentiate between the left and right sides of the vehicle. Its one solid mass that's leaning one way or another.
Look at it another way:
An anti-roll bar is a torsion spring with a specificed rate based on degrees of twist. The degree of twist of measured at the center of the bar. So, let's say the bar twisted 2 degrees and generates 500 lbs of force. That 500 lbs is exactly the same if the right side of the bar moved up .5 degree and the left side moved down 1.5 degrees or vice versa.
Where the confusion starts is the assumption that this 500 lbs is divided up between the left and right sides of the vehicle. Its not. Its just 500 lbs of weight transfer that's not happening.
How's that?
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John Coffey
johnc@betamotorsports.com
