Forced Based Suspension Analysis
Traditional Graphical Suspension Geometry solutions incorporate a number of simplifying assumptions that limit the usefulness of their results.
- Loads carried by additional links such as the steering tie rod are neglected.
- Asymmetric Lateral Loads applied at the tires, which are significant in racing applications can not be evaluated.
- Solutions are often compressed to 2D over simplifying the load paths.
A Force Based Kinematic Solution evaluates how the tire loads are reacted through the suspension linkage and applied to the chassis. Left and Right Suspensions can be evaluated individually allowing for asymmetric load application. Loads reacted by individual links including steering links are included. More complex 5 bar linkages can be modeled. Unbalanced vertical "Jacking" forces are captured. More advanced modelers can incorporate compliances.
Technical Papers we Recommend:
- SAE: 2008-01-2948 : Suspension Geometry: Theory vs K & C Measurement - Does steering and bump steer modify the location of the kinematic roll and pitch axes? If so, by how much? How to calculate and appreciate such differences? The effects of bump steer and steering are often neglected ... Author(s): William C. Mitchell, Robert Simons, Timothy Sutherland, Michael Keena-Levin
- SAE: 2006-01-3617 : Force-Based Roll Centers and an Enhanced Kinematic Roll Center - Roll Centers are an important tuning tool but their importance is often misunderstood. The roll center has too often become a mysterious concept rather than a simple descriptive parameter. Roll Centers may be ... Author(s): William C. Mitchell
- SAE: 2004-01-3547 : Using K & C Measurements for Practical Suspension Tuning and Development - In recent decades, suspension kinematics and compliance (K&C) testing has become a support-testing standard in the vehicle industry, providing invaluable data for suspension design and vehicle dynamics simulations. But ... Author(s): Phillip R. Morse
- SAE: 2004-01-3525 : Novel Force-Based, High-Speed, Three-Dimensional Nascar Vehicle Model - Typical vehicle dynamics simulations demand a trade-off between short computation times and accuracy. Many of the more simple models are based on the kinematic roll center and the more accurate models tend to be ... Author(s): Enrico Nino Manes, John Starkey
- SAE: 1999-01-0046 : Roll Centers and Jacking Forces in Independent Suspensions - A First Principles Explanation and a DesignerS Toolkit - Most suspension designers are familiar with both the concept of the roll center and with suspension jacking in independent suspensions. The connection between them is less widely appreciated. This paper analyzes the ... Author(s): Barney Gerrard
- Race Car Vehicle Dynamics -
Author(s): William Milliken and Douglas Milliken, ISBN 1-56091-526-9