This paper discusses the benefits of truck simulation for ride
and handling tuning at product development. Virtual simulation can
guide the conception of new vehicles to a better "first
guess" of dynamics characteristics, providing calibrated
options to define parameters for springs, dampers and anti-roll
bars, closer to the desired condition. TruckSim™, from Mechanical
Simulation, was the chosen software due to its user-friendly
interface, fast modeling and post-processing that matches with
challenging product time-to-market.
The scope of analysis is to evaluate/compare virtual results
against subjective/objective tests on real prototypes, in order to
proof software correlativity. The first step was to develop the
vehicle model, using 3D CAD models information, data acquired from
real prototypes and product specifications. The chosen vehicle was
a 9-ton 4X2 rigid truck. The next step was to model the procedures:
constant speed at 60 km/h, pass through a smooth bump at 15 km/h,
double lane change at 60 km/h (ISO 3888) and step steer at 45 km/h
(ISO 7401). These procedures were simulated with different sets of
dampers and anti-roll bars. Comparative tests were performed in
order to evaluate simulation results with empirical procedures,
both for comfort level and cornering. The outputs chosen to
validate the simulation were: acceleration, displacements of the CG
and tires reaction forces at the contact path.
The analysis indicated that it is possible to reduce loops of
suspension tuning therefore reducing time of tuning, saving
prototype/test cost and development time. So far, simulated
procedures are recommended even in conceptual phase to shift
vehicle dynamic parameters into confident initial approaches.