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Steering performance as a vehicle dynamics attribute of a heavy commercial vehicle is dependent on series of design and tunable steering system parameters. The driver steering input as angle and torque is transmitted through steering column to the steering box with a combined function created by the steering column angles and orientations. In case the angle and torque transmission from steering wheel to steering box through steering column cannot be linearized because of the design constraints, the steering column input and output torque, angle and angular speed relations should be optimized for a good vehicle dynamics performance and in compliance with the OEM brand DNA This paper represents series of CAE analyses, optimization studies, verification tests and subjective evaluations related to the tunable parameters of the steering column.

The basic scope of heavy-commercial vehicle (HCV) development which was just concentrated on fuel-economy, durability and performance feel is not capable of fulfilling the increasing customer expectations anymore. HCV developers concentrate on additional vehicle attributes such as steering, ride comfort, NVH, braking, ergonomics and exterior-interior design in order to provide the passenger-car like perception to HCV drivers during long distance drives. The objective of this paper is to present the model validation methodology and the optimization study on suspension & steering hard points of a HCV. The results of the optimization study on suspension kinematics and steering performance of the vehicle is verified using both full vehicle simulations and vehicle testing. A full vehicle ADAMS/Car model is used for the validation and optimization study which has beam-element leaf springs on solid axle and air springs on drive axle for front and rear, respectively.

Rollover accidents are one of the most severe kinds of vehicle crashes, with a fatality rate higher than any other crash type [ 1 ]. Therefore, the rollover performance of a vehicle needs to be evaluated and improved, if necessary, before vehicle design is finalized. The objective of this paper is to present a correlation methodology of an ADAMS vehicle model of a commercial vehicle to static, quasi-static and dynamic behavior obtained from testing an actual program representative prototype. Achieving an acceptable level of correlation to physical test will allow this ADAMS model, with appropriate updates to production representative component data, to be used as the basis for assessing the rollover resistance performance of the vehicle.