Optimization of Vehicle Steering Linkage With Respect to Handling Criteria Using Genetic Algorithm Methods

The handling quality of a car is one of the most crucial parameters in the evaluation of the vehicle's overall performance. This quality is noticeably influenced by the structural and functional characteristics of the various components of the vehicle. The vehicle platform subsystems (i.e. steering, suspension, and braking) have major role in altering and tuning handling quality. It brings up special concerns in designing each of these mechanisms and need of having a comprehend understanding of their role in the handling characteristics of a vehicle. In this article, a general method for the optimization of steering system is presented. The investigation is focused on the geometrical parameters of a rack and pinion steering system, and their contribution on the handling characteristics. This kind of steering is common in medium class vehicles. A novel method is proposed to set the optimized geometry of the steering system, in particular its joint placements, by using a genetic-based approach. The cost function is composed of different criteria, which cover different aspects of handling characteristics. In order to eliminate the insignificant parameters, the sensitivity analysis is done using design of experiment method (DOE). A certified ADAMS model has been used as a benchmark to evaluate the presented model.