The Effect of Arm Stiffness on the Elasto-Kinematic Properties of Single-Axle Suspension by Using the MBS Simulation Model
Abstract
The paper is focused on the stiffness analysis of the longitudinal arm of single-axle suspension on elasto-kinematic behaviour of the vehicle axle which is highly important when considering the handling characteristics related tovehicle safety.The elasto-kinematic behaviour of the axle determines the course of the geometrical parameters of wheel suspension, the toe angle and camber as the function of wheel movement during force loading. This paper presents the complex MBS (Multi-Body Simulation)model of the wheel suspension with nonlinear characteristics of rubber-metal bushings.
The model also comprises force elements such as springs, shock absorbers, stops and the transverse stabilizer. The model of flexible arm is implemented in the MBS model using the Craig-Bampton method, which represents a flexible body based on the synthesis of its own modal shapes.
Subsequently,elasto-kinematic simulations are performed with the help ofthe computational system Hyperwork. The computational part of the paper presents the results of the elasto-kinematic behaviour of wheel axle for the flexible arm with different sheet metal thicknesses (2, 3 and 4 mm) and different materials (steel and aluminium alloy AlSi7Mg).
Individual calculation models are compared to each other and also to the model of suspension with therigidarm. Elasto-kinematic analyses are also validated by the measurement inthe testing stage.