Durability Assessment and Riding Comfort Evaluation of a New Type Scooter by Road Simulation Technique

The durability and riding comfort performance of a new type scooter were investigated by bench test. The long-term road load data of Taiwan market were measured with accelerometers and strain gauges by the on-line rainflow cycle counting method. The equivalent test track corresponding to 50,000 km in Taiwan market was established with ARTC's proving ground (Automotive Research and Testing Center in Taiwan) by correlation analysis technique. Then we performed the full vehicle bench durability test with load histories obtained by the road simulation technique. After a series of testing, analysis, and modification, the test vehicle already got a satisfactory result for the durability performance. Riding comfort analysis was performed following the ISO 2631 standard with accelerometers near the seat and foot in the bench testing. In order to get an optimum combination of suspension system for this new type scooter, many sets of front and rear suspensions were evaluated. The evaluation software of riding comfort was developed in accordance with ISO 2631 standard by using LabVIEW programming language. Finally, no cracks were observed when this scooter underwent a durability test on the public road more than 50,000 km. It means that above integrated approach was suitable to evaluate the durability and riding comfort performance of a new type vehicle.