Title: Suspension design by means of numerical sensitivity analysis and optimisation

Authors: Bernhard Angrosch; Manfred Plöchl; Werner Reinalter

Addresses: Institute of Mechanics and Mechatronics, Vehicle System Dynamics Research Group, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E325/A1, Vienna 1040, Austria ' Institute of Mechanics and Mechatronics, Vehicle System Dynamics Research Group, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/E325/A1, Vienna 1040, Austria ' Department of MBS-Simulation, MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik, Liebenauer Hauptstraße 317, Graz 8041, Austria

Abstract: The kinematic layout of suspension systems determines the wheel's motion during bounce and rebound and thus, has a high influence on the dynamic performance of the vehicle. The presented study uses design of experiments (DoE) to determine dependencies between the location of the mounting points of the suspension devices and typical suspension indicators. Therefore, MBS models of a McPherson front as well as a multi-link rear suspension are considered. Then the locations of the mountings are varied by means of numerical optimisation by considering target values for chosen suspension indicators. While vehicle handling properties are usually anticipated by regarding suspension indicators, this paper aims to present a shortcut between the positioning of a suspension's mounting points and the resulting consequences on the vehicle handling characteristics by means of DoE. Therefore, a virtual full vehicle model is introduced.

Keywords: suspension design; numerical optimisation; DoE; design of experiments; McPherson suspension; multi-link suspension; kinematics; vehicle dynamics; suspension mounting points; vehicle handling; vehicle modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2014.060065

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2014 Vol.65 No.1, pp.52 - 72

Received: 17 Dec 2011
Accepted: 18 Nov 2012

Published online: 30 Oct 2014 *

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