COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR ANALYZING THE KINEMATICS AND COMPLIANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE’S FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM

MOON, I. D.; OH, C. Y.

doi:2012.13.2.279

International Journal of Automotive Technology > Volume 13(2); 2012 > Article

Automobile Chassis & Vehicle Dynamic

International Journal of Automotive Technology 2012;13(2): 279-284.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-012-0025-4

COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR ANALYZING THE KINEMATICS AND COMPLIANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE’S FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM

I. D. MOON¹, C. Y. OH²

¹Hyundai-Kia Motors
²Chonbuk National University

ABSTRACT

This paper develops a computational model that can analyze the kinematics and compliance characteristics of the front suspension of a commercial vehicle. This computational model is called the flexible multi-body dynamic model because it is developed by interfacing the finite element model of the multi-leaf spring with the dynamic model of the front suspension. In this paper, the bump mode and roll mode tests are performed with a suspension parameter measuring device (SPMD). An excitation load for creating the bump mode and roll mode motion is applied on the left and right tires slowly in in-phase and out-of-phase modes. In the test, wheel rate, toe angle change, caster angle change, and camber angle change, which together represent the wheel alignment, are measured along with the longitudinal and lateral wheel center loci which together represent the wheel center trajectory change. The reliability of the developed computational model is verified by comparing the simulation results with the SPMD test results. The developed flexible multi-body computational model will provide useful information on kinematics and compliance characteristics in the earliest stages of the commercial vehicle design process.