Experimental Evaluation and Adams Simulation of the Kinetic Suspension System

The purpose of this thesis is to confirm the performance benefits of the Kinetic suspension system developed by Tenneco Automotive using ADAMS simulation and experimental testing. The motivation for the design of the system is discussed, and the function of the system is explained. The system improves handling, stability, and ride by passively decoupling roll stiffness from articulation stiffness and roll damping frombounce damping.The first stage in the process involved full-scale vehicle rollover testing of a standard and Kinetic equipped Honda CR-V using the NHTSA roll rate feedback fishhook maneuver. During the testing, the fishhook failure speeds for each of the two vehicles were found, and data was taken for each of the runs performed. All of this data was processed and compared for each vehicle, giving a measure of the stabilityenhancement due to the Kinetic system.Next, ADAMS models of the vehicles were created and validated using the aforementioned fishhook data set. The model was then used to further analyze the Kinetic system using response, handling, and ride maneuvers. The response maneuver used was the sinusoidal sweep, which can provide information about potential vehicleanomalies that could adversely affect the response feel of the vehicle. To test the handling, the vehicle was simulated using the NHTSA yaw acceleration feedback fishhook. By evaluating the failure speeds and pertinent data, the vehicle handling was evaluated. In addition, similarities or differences in the yaw responses that can give a measure of handling feel were also evaluated.Lastly, the standard and Kinetic vehicles were simulated driving over a characteristic profile of Freeway #5 in California. The vehicles were run at 55 mph and 70 mph, then swept through the range of speeds from 70 mph to 0 mph. This data was analyzed to provide the specific bounce and pitch responses for 55 and 70 mph, as well as the frequency responses for the range of possible speeds.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2005

Author dc:creator

• Wilde, James Ronald

Contributors dc:contributor

• Guenther , Dennis

• Mechanical Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1363865765

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1363865765