Vehicle’s Dynamics – Episode 3: The Yaw

21 December 2016 Redazione Techniques and Driving

Unlike the previous two episoded, the yaw is a movement of the masses of the car which can also be caused by the driver in order to create certain circumstances. In a nutshell it represents the movement of the body around its vertical axis, passing through the same center of gravity. This particular behavior can be determined from a different force exerted between the front axle and the rear or also, for example, by a different value of grip between the tires (front and rear).

The yaw then enter into play unbalancing the car and bringing it towards the inside or towards the outside, and thus requiring an emergency maneuver which aims to find the right balance and the adherence needed to stay on track. Nowadays, all vehicles are equipped with electronic controls that govern the stability of the car (ESC), which in some cases you can partially or even completely switch off – they have the task of managing the traction according to the grip factor of the different driving wheels.