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This paper describes the methodology adopted at T-Systems do Brasil, for performing handling analysis of commercial vehicles. Its application to an intercity bus with 3 axles is presented. The objective is to improve primary suspension characteristics alone, with respect to both comfort and handling and to study the behavior of the full vehicle with respect to handling and to improve it through the changes of primary suspensions characteristics. The methodology adopted was the development of a complete multibody model of the bus (Figure 4) in ADAMS, considering all the major non-linearities of the actual vehicle, such as air spring and shock absorber curves, suspension bump stops and tire model (Delft). Once having the model, several analyses were carried out including, modal, single lane change, double lane change, steering impulse and sine steering sweep.

This article has as objective the demonstration of a methodology to create component test rigs using numerical simulation techniques (FEM - Finite Element Modelling) as an aiding tool. It also emphasises the interaction between modern design procedures and experimental testing, regarding their consequences to product development. The case study was the development of a prototype chassis components durability test rig. The target was to reproduce a failure occurring at a crossbeam subframe on the assembly with the leaf spring mounting in order to test possible proposed solutions. An initial rig concept was created using experimental data. This conception failed to reproduce the crack at the point where it occurred in the prototype. A new rig was virtually designed and simulated. As the simulation showed proper results, it encouraged the construction of this new rig, which reproduced the failure as expected.