Suspension design and dynamic analysis of a lightweight vehicle

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of suspension systems for a lightweight vehicle being developed at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, called the Low Mass Vehicle (LMV). A performance target vehicle (reference) model was first developed using a multi-body vehicle dynamics program (ADAMS/Car) and its responses of kinematics, compliance and dynamic step steer tests were validated with the test data. The suspension design parameters of the LMV were then tuned to meet the handling characteristics of the reference vehicle and the effects on vehicle responses of loading condition changes were investigated. The roll stability of the LMV was also assessed by performing fixed timing fishhook manoeuvre. The vehicle responses of the LMV with the developed suspension systems correlate well with those of the reference vehicle and provide good roll stability in the fishhook manoeuvre.