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This paper presents a technique to predict the suspension load in early design stage when a passenger car with low profile tires goes over a bump. The suspension load is simulated by using ADAHS (Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems). The tire was modeled as a radial spring with non-linearity decided by test data. The simulated results of suspension load agreed with the test data. The effect of shock absorber characteristics and spring bumper stiffness on the suspension load was studied by using this simulation model. As a result, the optimum specification for suspension load reduction was taken.

This paper describes a method to arrive at a feasible solution which can not be found in the linearly approximated constrained domain and a process which would reduce the number of finite element analyses to obtain a designer's preferable solution. The feasible solution is obtained by adapting the goal programming method, in which the weighting factors depending on maximum allowable performance variables and performance sensitivities are used. The designer's preferable solution is obtained by presenting the linear approximated trade-off curves after taking into account the designer's rough preference. Two applications of optimization for compliances of a passenger car rear suspension system are described, in which spring stiffness and installation angles of insulators are treated as the design variables.