Vehicle dynamics analysis is key in finding a balance among strength, weight, comfort and handling. Utilizing CAE software helps manufacturers reduce time and costs during design, development and prototype stages of production.
Modelica provides an easy and quick solution for quickly creating complex vehicle models, with prebuilt components from Modelon’s Vehicle Dynamics Library included as standard features.
Suspension
Suspension plays an integral part in vehicle dynamics and the dynamic response of wheel packages to road surface conditions. Kinematics of suspension determine how wheel packages move during cornering, acceleration and braking actions which in turn influences vehicle behavior and ride comfort.
There are two primary categories of suspension systems; independent and dependent. Independent suspensions (MacPherson strut, A-arm) serve to isolate wheels from one another while offering various advantages and disadvantages; dependent suspensions connect wheels directly to bodies/chassis with rigid beams that limit their movement – most frequently through double wishbone suspension systems.
Suspension design should aim to optimize ride comfort and handling performance while considering weight, cost, durability, and safety factors. Engineers may employ various strategies ranging from CAE tools and analytical equations to optimization methods; however, these approaches tend to be time consuming and costly; an alternative option would be using virtual modeling and simulation environments.
Steering
Steering systems are intricate networks of rods, pivots, and gears that transmit steering wheel rotation to front wheels. Studies of vehicle steering geometry aim to optimize stability, self-centring, and returnability qualities; in particular the kingpin inclination angle has been identified as one variable which impacts these dynamics of steering.
This study employs the multidisciplinary optimization design framework modeFrontier, which integrates 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) modelling tools for performing rack-and-pinion steering mechanism optimisation. Optimization objectives focus on minimising Ackermann error and toe angle deviations as well as tierod diameter, mass, maximum von-Mises equivalent stresses; their ultimate objective being achieving the optimal balance among competing parameters to enhance vehicle stability, manoeuvrability, passenger comfort as well as extend reliability/fatigue lifecycle.
Brakes
Braking is an intricate part of vehicle dynamics that has an immense effect on overall system performance. Achieve maximum braking performance requires understanding the interaction between brake components and platform, which are essential elements in creating effective brake designs for vehicles.
Vehicle dynamics such as longitudinal acceleration and yaw inertia impact braking force distribution across front to rear axles, while brake fade behavior, chassis controls, and tire-to-road interaction all play a part.
These effects can have an impactful impact on BLCF, altering it depending on initial braking speed. Therefore, it’s critical that vehicles’ thermal models be used when estimating wheel cylinder pressure; an integrated platform between brake and tire thermal models provides better estimations of pressure and temperature conditions, helping the system adapt more quickly to differing driving and braking conditions and maintain stability more easily.
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamic design for vehicles is integral in reducing drag, wind noise and producing downforce for increased traction, but can also have significant bearing on handling stability and road friendliness.
Vehicle Dynamics encompasses all the factors that shape how vehicles behave on roads and tracks, from their steering inputs and turn radius measurements, lateral movements due to turning turns or vertical forces caused by brakes, to how well their suspension system performs when used for motorsport. Vehicle dynamics is the study of how an object responds to changes in its environment – be it steering inputs from steering wheel input, lateral motion due to turning or vertical forces due to braking forces.
Complex Vehicle Dynamics Analysis requires highly sophisticated multi-body system models and advanced controller design software such as Simulink, MSC ADAMS or Modelica to successfully design vehicles for autonomous operation. Recently, learning-based approaches have also been employed as they may capture nonlinearities in vehicle dynamics without increasing computational costs [35]