Title: Suspension derivatives of a kinematic suspension model

Authors: J.R. Ellis, D.A. Guenther, A.Y. Maalej

Addresses: Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co., Ohio, USA. ' Ohio State University, USA. ' SEA Inc, Ohio, USA

Abstract: In the traditional approach of vehicle modelling, the suspensions are assumed dynamically linked to the vehicle body. The suspension units are associated with their independent inertia degrees of freedom. In this paper the movement of the suspension units are considered to be geared to the vehicle body kinematically. The functional relationships which relate the movement of the tyre-ground contact patch to the vehicle body movement are the suspension derivatives. These are derived from the kinematic analysis of the suspension structure. The analytical behaviour of the suspension derivatives was found to agree with their behaviour measured by the Suspension Parameter Measuring Device. The results suggest that a suspension unit may be described by constant gear ratios.

Keywords: kinematic suspension; suspension derivatives; three-dimensional suspension; two-dimensional suspension; tyre-ground contact; vehicle dynamics; simulation; vehicle suspension; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1989.061546

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1989 Vol.10 No.5, pp.519 - 530

Published online: 26 May 2014 *

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