Technical Paper
Use of Simulation to Tune Race Car Dampers
1994-12-01
942504
Having a well-balanced suspension in race cars is critical to a team's success in every race series. The ability of the suspension to keep all four tires in contact with the racing surface over bumps and through turns is crucial. A key component controlling these factors is the dampers. One method used to assess the damper performance, besides on track testing, is the four post vibration rig test. This test involves placing the vehicle on a four post test stand that inputs prescribed forces to the four tires. Acceleration measurements are made on the car during this test and frequency response plots can be generated to evaluate the vertical dynamic response of the vehicle. While very useful, the four post rig testing is expensive both in terms of race team time and costs.