Discrete Beam Modeling Of The Leaf Spring In ADAMS And Simulation Of Suspension K&C Characteristics For Heavy-duty Truck

High efficiency can be achieved though the application of CAE technology in designing ofleaf springs and test of the suspension K&C characteristics. besides some of the assumptionscan be ignored in the traditional calculation methods，making the model more accurate andimproving the effectiveness of the entire design process.The discrete beam modeling methods of creating leaf springs and the K&C characteristics ofsuspension in heavy trucks were studied in the paper based on the virtual prototypingsoftware ADAMS. The main contents of the paper can be divided into the followingsections.(1) It was presented in the paper，the theory of indirect discrete beam modeling methods ofcreating leaf springs, the calculation methods of the parameters required in the indirectdiscrete beam modeling methods and programs of equations to calculate the parameters andthe modeling input files based on MATLAB，with which it could output the modeling inputfiles if basic parameters of the leaf spring assembly and parts were inputted to the programs.At the same time, the dynamic model of the zero offset type leaf springs with11sheetsmounted in the front suspension of the heavy truck was established, and the stiffness of theleaf spring model was verified by simulation in ADAMS/Car Leafspring Model.(2) In order to tackle the problem that the model of the inversion type leaf springs could notbe established in ADAMS/Car Leafspring model, the theory of the direct discrete beammodeling methods of leaf springs was analyzed and the calculation methods of theparameters required in the direct discrete beam modeling methods were studied anddetermined. Meanwhile, programs of the equations to calculate the parameters were writtenin MATLAB，with which the programs could output the parameters required in the modelingprocess if the basic parameters of the actual leaf spring assembly and parts were inputted. InADAMS/View, the dynamic model of the inversion type leaf springs with10sheets thatmounted in the rear suspension of the heavy truck was established and the stiffness of themodel was verified by simulation.(3) By mounting the leaf spring model based on the indirect discrete beam modelingmethods in the front suspension model of the heavy truck，the front suspension K&Ccharacteristics tests were conducted by simulation，and the K&C characteristics parametersof the front suspension were extracted.(4) By mounting the leaf spring model that based on the direct discrete beam modelingmethods in the rear suspension model of the heavy truck, this paper established the rear leafsprings balanced suspension K&C characteristics test bench of the heavy truck, conducted rear suspension K&C characteristics tests, and extracted the K&C characteristics parametersof the rear suspension.The main significances of this paper are as follows:(1) The calculation methods of the parameters required in the discrete beam modeling of leafsprings and the programs of the equations to calculate the related parameters written inMATLAB Given in this paper can improve the efficiency and accuracy of the method ofmodeling of leaf springs.(2) The model of the front leaf springs suspension and the rear leaf springs balancedsuspension of heavy-duty truck established and the suspension K&C characteristics testsconducted in this paper can simulate bench tests that can’t experiment on the real suspension.The suspension K&C characteristics of the heavy-duty truck obtained in this paper cansupply data for TruckSim as well.(3) The rear leaf springs balanced suspension model contained the tire model conducted inthis paper are much more appropriate to the practical rear leaf springs balanced suspensions.The K&C characteristics test bench established in this paper can be the foundation for thestudy of the performance of the rear suspension of the heavy-duty truck.