Title: Nonstationary random response of a vehicle with a varying structure

Authors: U.O. Akpan, M.R. Kujath

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Nova Scotia, P.O. Box 1000, Halifax, N.S., B3J-2X4, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Nova Scotia, P.O. Box 1000, Halifax, N.S., B3J-2X4, Canada

Abstract: This paper presents results from a study of random responses of a vehicle with a reconfiguring flexible structure. The structure is attached to a vehicle supported by a flexible suspension. The vehicle accelerates uniformly on a rough surface generating a nonstationary random excitation. The covariance Liapunov equation for the vehicle and the structure responses is developed. The Liapunov equation is solved for the covariances using fourth order Runge-Kuta integration algorithm. The dynamic interaction between the vehicle and the structure is explored. The effects of damping, surface roughness coefficients, structural configuration, and the vehicle velocities are discussed.

Keywords: covariance; rough surfaces; nonstationary random excitation; surface profile; varying structure; vehicle structure; vehicle design; flexible structure; flexible suspension; damping; surface roughness coefficients; structural configuration; vehicle velocity; vehicle speed.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1995.061919

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1995 Vol.16 No.6, pp.531 - 541

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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