Vehicle Dynamics Expo 2010 Open Technology Forum

Ride and Handling
Day 1 Tuesday 22 June 2010 - Morning session

Moderator - Valerio Cibrario, Driving Dynamics Operations Manager, LMS International

10.30
Principal and benefits of several torque vectoring concepts for improved vehicle performance characteristics
Bosch Engineering GmbH – Peter van Vliet, system engineer
Modern chassis tuning commonly results in a compromise between targets like agility, traction and accurate steering, while maintaining adequate stability, comfort and suitability for everyday use. This presentation provides an overview of how this conflict of interests can be resolved: the latest developments on torque vectoring by brake application, differential or, as was shown recently, extended degrees of freedom are available in multi-motor electric-driven vehicles.

10.55
Identification of tire lateral force characteristics from handling a data and functional suspension model
Centro Ricerche Fiat – Marco Pesce, vehicle dynamics specialist
Tires' cornering properties must be known and verified at different stages during the vehicle development process. A well-known approach for tire-suspension performance assessment is based on the identification of the equivalent axles’ lateral force characteristic. A different approach, based on a four-corner car model with simplified suspension K&C, was tested in order to obtain tire cornering properties from standard handling tests, saving time and costs.

11.20
New facilities for crosswind sensibility analysis at IDIADA
Applus+ IDIADA – Jonathan Webb, vehicle dynamics manager
In line with the continuous aim to extend the scope of engineering support, IDIADA has recently installed a new facility: crosswind simulators. This facility permits subjective and objective precise assessment of the influence of aggressive crosswind on the stability of the vehicles. Additional engineering support can be used to improve the vehicle performance with the use of simulation tools.

11.45
Advanced testing and simulation techniques in ride and handling body deformation
LMS Italiana - Paolo di Carlo, engineering services chassis team leader
The flexibility of the car body has an influence on vehicle dynamics. Consequently, body reinforcements may have large influence in the professional driver ride and handling perception. In this presentation, dedicated testing equipment gives evidence of the structure effect and advanced CAE techniques to approach and analyze the phenomena will be discussed. This represents the first step for understanding the ride and handling perception feeling due to body deformation and for defining a systematical approach for correlating with objective measurements.

12.10
Electric Active Roll Control (EARC)
Cranfield University – Ganesh Mohan, MSc student
Excessive body roll affects vehicle stability. Current Active Roll Control (ARC) designs utilise hydraulic systems, making it difficult for hybrid vehicle implementation. This research project investigates the applicability of electric ARC, along with dual-channel ARC to enhance vehicle manoeuvrability.

12.35
The Nürburgring and its effect on the development of sports cars
SBA Motor Sports – Shields Bergstrom, professional race driver
A study of the effect of ring development on road-going sports cars. Vehicles developed at the Nürburgring require specific suspensions and setup that, while increasing overall vehicle grip, often translate into a loss of handling and proper driver feel.

Suspension
Day 1 Tuesday 22 June 2010 - Afternoon session

Moderator – Pascal Mast, Manager-Chassis, TÜV SÜD Automotive

14.00
The closed air suspension system of the Porsche Panamera
Porsche AG & Continental AG – Claus Blattner, head of development, suspension systems and Andreas Nessel, head CC air spring modules, division chassis & safety
The active air suspension of the new Porsche Panamera takes the best compromise about comfort and sport. The adjustment of the chassis for powerful Porsche cars has to be in all cases a compromise between the high requirement on the high class vehicles and the sports cars (e.g. 911), too. With the new Porsche Panamera, Porsche break into new ground were the driver can choose (on demand) between a comfortable, sporty or a dynamic adjustment of the chassis. Porsche in collaboration with the supplier Continental will jointly discuss the success and efficient characteristics of one system.

14.25
Simulating advanced passive damping technologies
BWI Group – Dr Janusz Gołdasz, simulation engineer
Vehicle dampers often require add-ons for varying damping forces – amplitude-selective damping (ASD), inertia valves, etc. ASD valves are said to supply less damping at small displacement inputs, yet offer good ride during more aggressive manoeuvres. Here, we show a model of such a valve for inspecting the performance of a quarter-car system, then use it for examining its influence on the suspension.

14.50
Optimisation of vehicle handling performance by increasing the ARB effectiveness
Tatamotors Ltd – Arun Prakash, manager
Effectiveness of vehicle handling was enhanced through a new arrangement of the ARB and end linkage, which is achieved by joining the ARB end to the bottom of the stub axle on the KPI axis. This arrangement yielded 100% motion ratio of ARB within the package of tyre movements for the suspension and the steering system. Further optimisation is done on vehicle performance for ride and handling by DOE on ARB sizes and spring stiffness at front and rear.

15.15
Implementation of an active suspension system in a prototype vehicle – ultimate comfort and safety (ACOCAR)
Tenneco - Koen Reybrouck, global ride control technology director
After the concept validation on quarter-car level, this active suspension system has been further developed and implemented on a prototype vehicle. The presentation shows the system performance on full-car level, both at the test rig and on the road (by Tenneco and Flanders' Drive).

15.40
Multi-domain vehicle dynamics simulation with Dymola
Audi AG and Modelon GmbH – Johannes Gerl, general manager
A multibody model of an Audi sports car is set-up with Dymola and the Modelica Vehicle Dynamics Library. Compliant kinematics of the suspensions and entire vehicle simulations are validated using an Adams model. The model is then extended with an electric steering model and the original controller code (imp. from Simulink). Results are discussed giving insight into the entire system behaviour.

16.05
Application of surface modifications and coatings in suspension systems
Sulzer Metaplas GmbH – Thomas auf dem Brinke, project manager
Safety is the main feature of all suspensions not only in the short term but also for long reliable functioning of suspension systems. Corrosion and wear, especially on joints, is still the main reason for costly, image-killing recall actions. Modern surface solutions are already approved in mass production and help improve the quality and longevity of suspension components.

16.30
An experimental study as reference for magneto-rheological damper modelling and control
Tecnologico de Monterrey – Prof. Jorge de Jesus Lozoya-Santos, research assistant
Exhaustive experimentation evaluates a magneto-rheological damper, exploring in a rich manner its dynamic and static semi-active features. The development of two control approaches for smart automotive suspensions using this database exposes its potential as reference in semi-active suspensions research.