Abstract
Vehicle dynamics is a vital area of automotive engineering that focuses on analysing how a vehicle responds to driver inputs and external factors like road conditions and environmental influences. Achieving optimal performance, safety, and ride comfort requires a detailed understanding of longitudinal, lateral, and vertical dynamic behaviour. The objective of this paper is to develop and validate the model of a concept Race car and evaluate its vehicle dynamics behaviour using IPG CarMaker, a high-fidelity virtual testing environment widely used in industry. The model incorporates a range of vehicle parameters, including suspension parameters like spring and damper characteristics, mass distribution, tire properties and powertrain parameters. The evaluation is done using standard ISO test manoeuvres, including Constant Radius turn test (ISO 4138), Sine Steer test (ISO 8725) and other standard tests like Acceleration, Braking along with Ride and Comfort classification (as per ISO 2631). The key parameters that are calculated and validated are vehicle accelerations in the principal axes, stopping distance, yaw velocity and yaw velocity gain, vehicle roll characteristics, steering parameters, ride and driver comfort metrics
Validation of simulation outputs is achieved through comparison with empirical data obtained from literature and mathematical calculations based on vehicle dynamics principles. The test results show a close correlation between the mathematical and simulated values, therefore accurately predicting vehicle behaviour.
Keywords: Vehicle Dynamics, , Simulation, Longitudinal Dynamics, Lateral Dynamics, Vertical Dynamics, Ride Comfort, Vehicle Handling, Virtual Testing.