Flexibility Effects Of Control Arms & Knuckle On Suspension - A Finite Element Vs. Rigid Body Comparative Analysis

The aim of this analysis is to study the effects of flexibility of the suspension components like upper control arm, lower control arm and knuckle on the suspension forces as experienced by a vehicle. An independent front suspension, which was being proposed for a vehicle, has been used for this analysis. A rigid body quasi-static analysis was first performed. Later a finite-element model of the suspension first with rigid elements and later with flexible elements was analyzed using non-linear large deflection and compared with the rigid body results. It is found that flexibility of the suspension components only have a local effect and not much of a global effect.