Road vehicles: wheel/ground model

Abstract

Road vehicles represent an important class of multibody systems, all the more interesting since recent developments in this field rely on dynamical properties (stability, riding comfort, etc.). From the mechanical point of view, a vehicle is intrinsically of a multibody nature. Depending on the application, the model refinement can vary noticeably, while being rigorous with respect to the envisaged analysis. For instance, one could wish to check for vehicle stability, or to improve the under/over steering behavior in a curve: for such analyses, the model (including data) must be sufficiently refined as regards all the suspension elements, wheel/ground properties etc... yet can disregard, partially or even totally, the engine and transmission internal motions. Reciprocally, the latter would be at the heart of the model if vibration and noise were the main issues of the study.