The Base On ADAMS/CAR Mini-bus Handling And Stability Analysis

Handling and stability is an important dynamic properties as well as a key technical issue of mini-car. Virtual prototype technology based on Multi-body dynamics provides an advanced way of vehicle handling and stability analysis and design. This paper reviews the development status and future trends of system dynamics and introduces the modules and theory of ADAMS, one of the most popular multi-body system dynamics software packages. In this paper a mini-car multi-body model is built by ADAMS/CAR including the following details: the front Macpherson suspension system, the rear suspension with leaf-spring, steering system, body system,power system,brake system. The connections in the multi-body modeling between the components are built with constraints and force elements in ADAMS according to the real structure. The leaf-springs are modeled as beam elements, the dampers and bushes are built as nonlinear characteristic files which are getting from experiments. The tires are modeled as Fiala tire model.The validations of the vehicle multi-body model were carried out in this paper by real handling and ride tests in contrast with simulation results. Using the test steering wheel angle signal as a simulation input, the vehicle multi-body model was validated. The simulation results show that full vehicle model has a higher precision than the request of the practical engineering application. Based on the correctness and accuracy of the vehicle model, we run the vehicle dynamics simulation about handling using national standards and the vehicle handling stability was analyzed and evaluated. In addition, a number of factors which contribute to vehicle handling and stability on the performance were discussed for future improvement.The study in this paper is a good try for the technology of virtual prototyping in mini-car design and analysis. The purpose of this paper is to improve the product designed quantity, speed development and reduce development costs. The paper has a direct guidance on the development and design of the mini-car.