Technical Paper
Development of a Multi-Body Dynamic Model of a Tractor-Semitrailer for Ride Quality Prediction
2001-11-12
2001-01-2764
Increasingly, manufacturers are looking to computer simulation methods to accurately assess ride quality potential of new vehicle designs as they are being developed. This requires detailed multi-body dynamic models to be developed with sufficient fidelity to replicate ride relevant phenomenon. These models must have the capability to: Represent the distributed mass and elasticity of the vehicle structures (e.g. frame ladder, cab, and trailer). Include the non-linear behavior of shock absorbers and elastomeric components. Reproduce the fundamental system dynamics that influence ride. Provide output of the acceleration, velocity, and displacement measures needed to compute ride quality. This paper discusses the development of an ADAMS multi-body dynamic model of a tractor semi-trailer for use as a predictive tool in evaluating ride quality design improvements.