Title: Road vehicle suspension and performance evaluation using a two-dimensional vehicle model

Authors: Steven Roy, Zhaoheng Liu

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T5, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ecole de technologie superieure, Universite du Quebec, Montreal, Quebec H3C 1K3, Canada

Abstract: A two-dimensional model with eight Degrees Of Freedom (DOF) is developed to simulate and animate the response of a vehicle to different road, traction, braking and wind conditions. An algorithm is developed to compute the normal force acting on each tyre depending on its position with the road, allowing multiple contact regions along the tyre circumference. The vehicle is animated in real-time in a 3D VRML environment to visualise its behaviour. A model validation is conducted by comparing a 0–100 km/h acceleration run against a Honda Accord car equipped with an accelerometer and engine rpm recorder.

Keywords: vehicle dynamics; tyre contact algorithm; engine modelling; drivetrain modelling; experimental data acquisition; real-time simulation; animation; vehicle performance; vehicle suspension; performance evaluation; 2D vehicle modelling; 3D VRML; Honda Accord.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2008.020619

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2008 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.68 - 93

Published online: 03 Oct 2008 *

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