Nonlinear two-dimensional modeling of a McPherson suspension for kinematics and dynamics simulation

Abstract

This paper proposes a systematic and comprehensive development of a nonlinear two-dimensional mathematical quarter-car model of the McPherson suspension. The model considers not only vertical motion of the sprung mass (chassis) but also rotation and translation for the unsprung mass (wheel assembly). Furthermore, this model includes the wheel mass and its inertia moment about the longitudinal axis. This work improves the conventional quarter-car model by incorporating both the suspension geometry and the tyre lateral stiffness, which allows analyzing variations in kinematic parameters, such as camber angle and track width. Besides, the paper offers an implementation of the model using Matlab-Simulink, whose dynamics and kinematics have been validated against a realistic two-dimensional model developed with the Adams View program.