Suspension design using multibody dynamics with CAD pre- and post-processors

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Suspension design using multibody dynamics with CAD pre- and post-processors

Anderson, R.J. / Cosme, C.A. / Minato, R.

Simulation of vehicle dynamics using computers has become such a common practice that it is now almost a necessary step in the design and development of a vehicle system. As a design tool, it provides valuable predictions of dynamic performance such as ride quality and handling performance. Typical simulations of the recent past have employed mathematical models that relied heavily upon numerical data both to represent the model and to interpret the simulation results. Although these techniques are successful, they are prone to human error. Model geometry defined during the early phases of the design may contain data entry errors which can easily be overlooked. Additionally numerical input, particularly those requiring visualisation of vehicle motions, is difficult to interpret. Both problems can be alleviated by representing the vehicle graphically as well as numerically. This paper illustrates the development of a graphical user interface for the A'GEM multibody vehicle dynamics software developed at Queen's University. The goal has been to integrate the graphical drawing tools and database of a CAD program with the input and output files of the A'GEM software. The CAD program is customised to act as a graphical pre-processor for A'GEM, and it links to animation software that provides post-processing graphics. The user is able to draw the vehicle model with the CAD program and interpret the simulation results using animation. The animation of mode shapes provides insight into vehicle behaviour, while the graphical display provides a visual check on the model's geometry.