The dynamic behaviour represents a relevant factor in several technical fields in the automotive world. The dynamic characterization of a vehicle can be done by means of tests or simulations. In both methods, it is not avoidable to realize tests (direct study of the facts or model validations). This paper focuses on the tests definition problem (manoeuvres, variables of interest, necessary onboard instrumentation), test preparation and data processing. It describes a methodology to obtain the most relevant parameters of a vehicle and a systematic method to prepare tests and to deal with the data provided by advanced instrumentation (e.g. gyroscopic platform, optical distance sensors and rotating wheel dynamometer) in order to validate vehicle models or to study experimentally the complete dynamics of the vehicle. It is included the application of the methodology to real data obtained from tests in a vehicle. These data are used to validate a novel vehicle mathematical model that is also presented. The model is based on the 14 degrees of freedom model, but some modifications are introduced in order to take into account the effects of the suspension geometry (instant roll axis, roll centre height, anti-roll bar, anti-dive and anti-squat geometries, etc). (Author/publisher)
Abstract