Abstract
This paper presents a simulation approach to the control of the steerability of trucks and vans with leaf spring front suspensions.
The development of such suspensions has always needed a process for reducing the steer angles of front wheels under different driving conditions. This process has been basically based on the road and bench test results with prototypes, because of the difficulty of predicting the kinematic and compliance of the leaf spring with other methods.
The powerful simulation tools currently available for dynamics studies permits the handling of leaf spring models, with the corresponding number of degrees-of-freedom and the non-linearities of some elements.
The creation of the model, its validation with bench test data available and the final optimisation loop launched for the adjustment of the vehicle response will be presented. Therefore the two main effects involved on the steerability of the vehicle, kinematics and compliance, are widely explained and evaluated. The ultimate goal is to resolve the best co-ordinates for all the steering and knuckle joint points altogether with the optimal leaf spring settings for an optimal vehicle behaviour.
Hence, with the application of the simulation model presented, the straightability at high speed and stability under braking can be controlled and improved, and the overall development time and cost of the chassis reduced.