Abstract
The possibility to support handling road tests by numerical predictions of the dynamic behavior of the vehicle based on MATLAB and SIMULINK models is herewith investigated. The features of the Handling Simulator (HS) developed at the Politecnico di Torino, and tested in cooperation with Handling Test Group of Fiat Auto, are analyzed. Although the simulation of the motor vehicle dynamics in those environments is definitely not new, some features have been expressively required to the HS code. It actually implements only the lateral dynamics related to the motion of the vehicle on elastic suspensions, whose mechanical properties are described through experimental characterization curves. A bottom-up approach has been followed to test the possibility to build the simplest model suitable for an approximated but realistic prediction of the vehicle dynamic behavior. A time consuming reduction in supporting on road test and teaching activities in motor vehicle dynamics is provided. Data formats are expressively chosen taking into account the possibility to exchange information between MATLAB/SIMULINK files and other codes, including the multi-body dynamics ones currently used for numerical analysis, operating in co-simulation sessions. The tire role is taken into account by means of Pacejikas models, at least coping steady state conditions. A preliminary validation has been performed by comparing the numerical results of HS code and the experimental results acquired during handling road test maneuvers on a sample vehicle. Nevertheless a detailed and complete experimental validation has still to be performed.