Optimum Investigation of Suspension Parameters for Dynamic Performance Improvement of an Off-Road Vehicle

Suspension, steering and braking systems have played a significant role in the dynamic behavior of vehicles. Such significant role along with economic reasons has led vehicle manufacturers always to look at different ways to optimize and improve these systems. In off-road vehicles which are often under various loads, comprehensive analyzing of all chassis aspects to product an automotive that can efficiently accomplish the tasks assigned to it is inevitable. As designing new suspension system for vehicles is very expensive, the best option is to correct geometric parameters on the available vehicle suspension system in order to reduce costs and to improve the dynamic performance of the vehicle. In this article, suspension system of an off-road vehicle is modeled via Adams/Car software, and performance and sensitivity of these parameters against bump and roll inputs are analyzed by simulations of geometrical suspension parameters. Finally, according to experimental results derived from a lane-change maneuver, optimized values of designed suspension parameters provide better dynamic response of the vehicle during wheel steering operation.