Vehicle Dynamic Solution Based on Finite Element Tire/Road Interaction Implemented through Implicit/Explicit Sequential and Co-Simulation Approach

This work describes a numerical methodology based on the Finite Element approach able to simulate the dynamic maneuver of the full vehicle running on fatigue reference roads. The basic idea of present work stays in combining a moderately complex and general finite element tire model with traditional full-vehicle methods, including both implicit and explicit finite element techniques, in order to predict the dynamic response of the car running on the real fatigue reference roads. Some issues related to application of tire finite element model to a long simulation time in an explicit solution have been discussed. The best integration strategy between implicit and explicit solutions, based on pure sequential and/or the combined sequential and co-simulation mode is discussed. The real fatigue load is digitalized and implemented as a rigid body in the explicit code. The methodology has been successfully applied to Fiat light commercial vehicle, New Fiorino and to the “500” car chosen as tests case for this work.