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Handling performance analysis and optimization of a vehicle with considering the influence of steering shaft parameters

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Abstract

The structure of a steering system plays an important role in the vehicle’s handling performance. Considering the convenience of changing the structural parameters of the steering system, the phase angle of universal joints and the initial angle of steering shaft are selected as the structural parameters to be studied in this paper. The kinematics of the steering system and the dynamics of the whole vehicle are analyzed theoretically. The simulation study shows that the phase angle mainly influences the fluctuation of the steering ratio, the initial angle mainly influences the symmetry of the steering ratio. The transient and steady-state objective evaluation indexes vary with the phase angle and the initial angle at a period of 180°. Through optimization research, it is demonstrated that the handling performance of a vehicle can be improved in the direction of the desired level by matching the initial angle and phase angle.

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Abbreviations

a :

Distance between CG and front axle

b :

Distance between CG and rear axle

C′ f :

Equivalent damping coefficient of kingpin

C h :

Equivalent damping coefficient of the steering shaft

F f :

Lateral force acting on front wheel

F r :

Lateral force acting on rear wheel

F R :

Force of rack

g :

Gravitational acceleration

i c :

Steering shaft ratio

i r :

Ratio of rack and pinion

i l :

Steering rod ratio

I :

Inertia of the vehicle

I′ f :

Equivalent inertia of the front wheel

I h :

Inertia of the steering wheel

I′ h :

Equivalent inertia of steering wheel

I out :

The equivalent inertia of output shaft

K :

Stability coefficient

K 1 :

Cornering stiffness of front tires

K 2 :

Cornering stiffness of rear tires

K c :

Steering column stiffness

K r :

Steering gear fixing stiffness

K l :

Steering tie rod stiffness

K s :

Equivalent stiffness coefficient of steering system

l :

Vehicle wheelbase

m :

Vehicle mass

m r :

Rack mass

T z :

Self-aligning moment

r :

Yaw rate

s :

Laplace operator

t ay :

Delay time of the lateral acceleration

T :

Steering wheel torque

T out :

The torque of steering shaft output

T z :

The self-aligning moment

v :

Fluctuation rate

V :

Vehicle speed

x r :

Rack displacement

γ :

Kingpin inclination angle

δ f :

Front wheel angle

ξ :

The arm of lateral force

φ :

Steering wheel angle

φ 1 :

Angle of steering input shaft

φ 2 :

Angle of steering intermediate shaft

φ 3 :

Angle of steering output shaft

φ out :

Angle of output shaft

φ′ :

Equivalent angle of steering wheel angle

ρ :

Radius of circle

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 51965026).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Transportation Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China

    Jin Gao & Xiaoping Qi

Authors
  1. Jin Gao
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  2. Xiaoping Qi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jin Gao.

Additional information

Jin Gao is an Associate Professor of the Faculty of Transportation Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, China. His research interests include vehicle system dynamics, analysis and optimization of suspension system.

Xiaoping Qi is now studying for the Master’s degree in the Faculty of Transportation Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, China. His research interests are vehicle system dynamics and structural optimization.

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Gao, J., Qi, X. Handling performance analysis and optimization of a vehicle with considering the influence of steering shaft parameters. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 569–582 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0103-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0103-8

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