Characterisation of the Effects of Vehicle Parameter Variations on Vehicle Road Load Data

This paper presents a statistical characterisation of the effects of variations in vehicle parameters on vehicle road load data using a quarter vehicle as a case study.

A model of a quarter vehicle test rig constructed from a commercial SUV is created in a multi-body dynamics (MBD) simulation environment to reproduce the real-life behaviour of the SUV. The model is thereafter validated by correlating the response data collected from both the model and laboratory test rig to the same road input. In order to ensure that only the effects of the variation of the vehicle parameters are captured, a time domain drive signal for a kerb strike road event on the physical vehicle is generated from the proving ground data collected during durability testing of the vehicle. The variants of the quarter vehicle are excited by the generated drive file and the effects of the parameter variations are characterised in terms of peaks, root mean square values and ranges of the sprung and unsprung acceleration as well as the forces in the suspension components.