Title: Sensitivity analysis and optimisation of independent axle suspensions for a heavy-duty mining truck

Authors: Yiting Kang; Subhash Rakheja; Wenming Zhang

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China ' CONCAVE Research Centre, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W. Montreal, Quebec, H3H 1M8, Canada ' School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China

Abstract: The kinematic tuning of suspension mechanisms could substantially alter kinematic properties of the suspensions, and therefore the vehicle performance. In this study, positioning of hard points of a composite linkage (CL) and a candle (CA) suspension is investigated using design of experiment (DOE) and response surface model (RSM) approaches together with the effects of optimal designs on handling dynamics of a mining truck. Each kinematic response is optimised using the RSM approach, and the number of optimal cases is reduced considering correlations among different measures. The results suggest that the CL suspension with greater toe-in variation revealed lower under-steer gradient and greater peak lateral acceleration, yaw rate and roll angle responses of the sprung mass, in spite of its superior performance in terms of variations in camber, kingpin inclination and lateral displacement of wheel centre. The proposed method could be employed to achieve improved kinematic properties of current suspension designs.

Keywords: independent axle suspension; DOE; design of experiments; parameter screening; RSM; response surface methodology; sensitivity analysis; optimisation; heavy-duty trucks; mining trucks; heavy vehicles; optimal design; handling dynamics; vehicle handling; vehicle dynamics; kinematics; composite linkage suspension; candle suspension; under-steer gradient; peak lateral acceleration; yaw rate; roll angle; camber variations; kingpin inclination; lateral displacement; suspension design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2016.079295

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2016 Vol.23 No.4, pp.370 - 397

Received: 16 Jun 2015
Accepted: 30 Jan 2016

Published online: 26 Sep 2016 *

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