Title: A light-duty truck model for the analysis of on-center handling characteristics

Authors: Yupeng Duan; Yunqing Zhang; Yan Wang; Jiongli Zeng; Peijun Xu

Addresses: School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China ' School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China ' DongFeng Automobile Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430074, China ' DongFeng Automobile Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430074, China ' Ebco Inc., 1330 Holmes Road, Elgin, IL 60123, USA

Abstract: For commercial vehicles, on-center handling characteristics deeply influences the driving safety and driver's feeling about the vehicle on highway. This research focuses on the on-center handling performance of light-duty trucks. A vehicle model was built to conduct the simulation of the on-center handling test, which consists of a power steering system, non-independent front/rear suspensions, the powertrain system, and a cab. Nonlinear properties of the power steering system, the friction hysteretic characteristic in the steering system, suspension system with leaf springs are considered so as to reflect the complicated on-center handling characteristics. We conducted constant radius cornering tests, return-release tests, and high speed weave tests on a target vehicle. By comparing the test and simulation results, adjustments were made to the model parameters to improve simulation accuracy. A number of variables were altered to show its influence on the steering feel and vehicle response and results are given out.

Keywords: light-duty trucks; on-center handling; dynamic model; parameter sensitivity analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVP.2022.122052

International Journal of Vehicle Performance, 2022 Vol.8 No.2/3, pp.147 - 165

Received: 09 Aug 2020
Accepted: 25 Feb 2021
Published online: 08 Apr 2022 *

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