The Rolling Quarter Car Model a Method to Incorporate Dynamic Tire Response in Grip Optimization

Selection of springs and dampers is one of the most important considerations when finalizing a race car suspension design. It is also one of most complex due to the dynamic interaction of the vehicle with the ground. Current tuning methods for spring and dampers' effect on vehicle ride can be based on simplified dynamic models of the vehicle, such as the quarter-car model. While efficient computationally, the traditional quarter-car model does not account for the non-linear variation in grip seen by a fluctuating contact-patch. Both amplitude and frequency of suspension oscillation contribute to loss of tire grip. The method can be improved by incorporation of a dynamic tire model, though resulting in non-linear effects. An improved ‘rolling quarter-car’ model is created, which includes the effect of dynamic tire forces in the analysis of improved grip. Using typical Formula SAE race car, characteristics as a test case, a linearized dynamic model is made. The effect of suspension parameters on the dynamic tire forces produced are surveyed. Improvements made by the new model are presented.