Title: The process control and robust design for the reduction of vehicle drift and brake pulling

Authors: H.S. Sohn, T.W. Park

Addresses: School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ajou University, San 5 Wonchun-Dong, Paldal-Gu, Suwon, 442-749, Republic of Korea. ' School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ajou University, San 5 Wonchun-Dong, Paldal-Gu, Suwon, 442-749, Republic of Korea

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to reduce vehicle drift and brake pulling by implementing process control and robust design. The flat road drift and split brake pulling cases were studied. For the case of flat road drift, design of experiments (DOE) was performed to investigate the influences of main factors. The differences between left and right toe angle and tyre conicity proved to have the greatest influence on the drift. The root cause of problems were statistically analysed based on the measured values of the samples. The toe angle adjustment and the tyre conicity management processes were improved. The tolerance of the respective toe angle for the adjustment process was obtained using the Monte-Carlo simulation. The results were verified by statistical testing. In the case of split brake pulling, the optimal and robust design of the suspension hard points were obtained to reduce the pulling torque.

Keywords: DOE; Monte-Carlo simulation; statistical process control; process capability; optimal robust design; vehicle drift; brake pulling; automobile industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2004.003897

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2004 Vol.34 No.2, pp.126 - 141

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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