Title: Transient dynamic response of racing cars

Authors: S.O. Abel

Addresses: Institute of Vehicles, Warsaw University of Technology, 84 Narbutta Street, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract: A quarter car model with a conventional suspension system is used to study the transient response characteristics of modern racing cars under the influence of aerodynamic lift forces. The sum of forces along the gravitational axis represents an equivalent weight of the car at different speeds and lift coefficients. The value of the equivalent weight of the racing car (the static weight and the aerodynamic downforce corresponding to any given speed) are used in modifying the inertia (mass) matrix of the vehicle. This modified equation represents an effective dynamic system whose response functions and simulated motion along the vertical axis are compared.

Keywords: aerodynamic downforce; effective weight; motion simulation; transient response; vertical acceleration; dynamic response; racing cars; aerodynamics; quarter car models; vehicle modelling; aerodynamic lift; vehicle dynamics; vehicle design; dynamic modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1994.061900

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1994 Vol.15 No.6, pp.639 - 649

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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