Parameters Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization for the Performance of Vehicle Handling

With the development of the auto industry, the automobile manufacturers demand to shorten development period and reduce the cost. Compared with the traditional method, applying the virtual prototype is more economical. This paper presents a method for parameters sensitivity analysis and optimizing the performance of vehicle handling. The considered design parameters include suspension design parameters (the compliance parameters such as the stiffness of the spring, the kinematic parameters such as the coordinates of hard points in front, rear suspensions etc.), steering system design parameters (the inertia of steering wheel, the ratio of steering gear etc.), and operating parameters (the inertia and the coordinates of the center of the sprung mass, etc.). Finally the handling performances of the new designed vehicle are simulated by using the full vehicle ADAMS model. Compared with the original one, the results of the simulations show that the optimized vehicle has the improved handling performances.