Evaluation of VDANL and VDM RoAD for Predicting the Vehicle Dynamics of a 1994 Ford Taurus

The paper presents an evaluation of two vehicle dynamics simulations: “Vehicle Dynamics Analysis, Non-Linear” (VDANL) from Systems Technology, Inc. and “Vehicle Dynamics Models for Roadway Analysis and Design” (VDM RoAD) from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The versions of these simulations are being developed for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Working in cooperation with the FHWA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) in East Liberty, Ohio, has evaluated these simulations. An extensive vehicle parameter measurement and field testing program has been performed using a 1994 Ford Taurus to provide simulation parameters and to “benchmark” data for the simulation evaluation.

This paper focuses on the simulations' abilities to predict linear range vehicle responses based on analytical models and frequency responses, and nonlinear range vehicle responses based on understeer gradient plots. Both simulations do a good job of predicting expected vehicle responses in the linear range and both simulations are shown to predict the trends in the nonlinear understeer plots.