A small trailer and its load have a total mass of 250 kg. The trailer is supported by two springs, each of constant 10 kN/m, and is pulled over a road, the surface of which can be approximated by a sine curve with an amplitude of 40 mm and a wave length of 5 m (i.e., the distance between successive crests is 5 m and the vertical distance from crest to trough is 80 mm).
(a) Neglecting the mass of the wheels and assuming that the wheels stay in contact with the ground, use computational software to calculate and plot the amplitude of the vibration and the maximum vertical acceleration of the trailer for speeds of 10 to 80 km/h.
(b) Determine the range of values of the speed of the trailer for which the wheels will lose contact with the ground.
