Modeling Abstractions of Vehicle Suspension Systems Supporting the Rigid Body Analysis

It is possible to use architecture concept models for CAE analyses supporting the design and optimization of a vehicle's general layout prior to the time consuming and expensive preparation of detailed models. Suspension system, including kinematic linkages, compliance and damping elements, wheels, tires, and brakes, plays a key role in determining whether the basic layout of a vehicle is suitable for given application. This paper presents an appropriate set of architecture level abstractions for suspension systems that can be incorporated into full vehicle concept models. These modeling abstractions provide abstract representations of a wide variety of suspension system configurations that illustrate both geometric and functional properties without resorting to high-fidelity solid model renderings of parts using details that simply do not exist this early in the design process. The architecture concept suspension model presented in this study can be used for vehicles rigid body analysis.