Vehicle Cornering and Braking Behavior Simulation Using a Finite Element Method

This paper presents a vehicle dynamic simulation using a finite element method for performing more accurate simulations under extreme operating conditions with large tire deformation. A new hourglass control scheme implemented in an explicit finite element analysis code LS-DYNA⁽¹⁾ is used to stabilize tire deformation.

The tires and suspension systems are fully modeled using finite elements and are connected to a rigid body that represents the whole vehicle body as well as the engine, drive train system and all other interior parts. This model is used to perform cornering and braking behavior simulations and the results are compared with experimental data. In the cornering behavior simulation, the calculated lateral acceleration and yaw rate at the vehicle's center of gravity agree well with the experimental results. Their nonlinear behavior is also well expressed. In the braking behavior simulation, the calculated longitudinal acceleration at the vehicle's center of gravity shows good agreement with the experimental results.