Skip to main content
Log in

Optimization of suspension system of off-road vehicle for vehicle performance improvement

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Vehicle suspension design includes a number of compromises to provide good leveling of stability and ride comfort. Optimization of off-road vehicle suspension system is one of the most effective methods, which could considerably enhance the vehicle stability and controllability. In this work, a comprehensive optimization of an off-read vehicle suspension system model was carried out using software ADAMS. The geometric parameters of suspension system were optimized using genetic algorithm (GA) in a way that ride comfort, handling and stability of vehicle were improved. The results of optimized suspension system and variations of geometric parameters due to road roughness and different steering angles were presented in ADAMS and the results of optimized and conventional suspension systems during various driving maneuvers were compared. The simulation results indicate that the camber angle variations decrease by the optimized suspension system, resulting in improved handling and ride comfort characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. CRONJE P H, ELS S. Improving off-road vehicle handling using an active anti-roll bar [J]. Journal of Terramechanics, 2010, 47: 179–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. JANSEN S, OOSTEN J. Development and evaluation of vehicle simulation models for a 4ws application [J]. Vehicle System Dynamics, 1995, 24(4/5): 343–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. THORESSON M J. Mathematical optimization of the suspension system of an off-road vehicle for ride comfort and handling [D]. Faculty of Engineering, University of Pretoria, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  4. TANG C Y, GUO L X. Research on suspension system based on genetic algorithm and neural network control [C]// IEEE In telligent Computation Technology and Automation, Changsha, Hunan: IEEE Press, 2009: 468–471.

    Google Scholar 

  5. BA X, YU J, CHANG C, LI Y, LI J. Motion characteristics simulation and optimization of suspension system in patrolling forest fire vehicle [C]// Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference, VPPC’09, Michigan, USA: IEEE, 2009: 134–137.

    Google Scholar 

  6. KANG D O, HEO, S J, KIM M S. Robust design optimization of suspension system by using target cascading method [J]. International Journal of Automotive Technology, 2011, 13(1): 109–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. NING X, ZHAO C, SHEN J. Dynamic analysis of car suspension using ADAMS/car for development of a software interface for optimization [J]. Procedia Engineering, 2011, 16: 333–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. UYS P E, ELS P S, THORESSON M. Suspension settings for optimal ride comfort of off-road vehicles travelling on roads with different roughness and speeds [J]. Journal of Terramechanics, 2007, 44: 163–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. ELS P S, THERON N J, UYS P E, THORESSON M J. The ride comfort vs. handling compromise for off-road vehicles [J]. Journal of Terramechanics, 2007, 44: 303–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. PANG H, LI H Y, FANG Z, WANG J F. Stiffness matching and ride comfort optimization of heavy vehicles suspension based on ADAMS [J]. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 2011, 44–47: 1734–1738.

    Google Scholar 

  11. CHEN S, WANG D, ZAN J. Vehicle ride comfort analysis and optimization using design of experiment [C]// IEEE, Intelligent Human-Machine Systems and Cybernetics (IHMSC), Nanjing, China: IEEE Press, 2010: 14–18.

    Google Scholar 

  12. MASHADI B, MAJIDI M, POURABDOLLAH H. Optimal vehicle dynamics controller design using a four-degrees-of-freedom model [J]. Journal of Automobile Engineering, 2010, 224(5): 645–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. MASHADI B, MAHMOODI-KALEIBAR M. Control of vehicle path by simulation of driver model [C]// National Conference of Mechanical Engineering, Birjand, Iran, 2011:455–499. (in Persian)

    Google Scholar 

  14. AFKAR A, MAHMOODI-KALEIBAR M, PAYKANI A. Geometry optimization of double wishbone suspension system via genetic algorithm for handling improvement [J]. Journal of Vibroengineering, 2012, 14(2): 827–837.

    Google Scholar 

  15. DELANEY M. Double Wishbone vs. MacPherson Strut II: Compared [EB/OL]. [2002-02-12]. http://www.team-integra.net/forum/blogs/michaeldelaney/154-double-wishbone-vs-macpherson-strut-ii-compared.html.

    Google Scholar 

  16. BALIKA K P. Kineto-dynamic analyses of vehicle suspension for optimal synthesis [D]. Concordia University Montreal, Quebec, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Toe-out and Handling, steering geometry & front end alignment”. auto-ware.com. [EB/OL]. [2002-02-12]. http://www.auto-ware.com/setup/toe_hand.htm.

  18. WANG C F. Design and synthesis of active and passive vehicle suspensions [D]. Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  19. CHEN Y C, HUANG H H, HSIEH C H, LIN J B. Determination of kingpin axis from wheel points using dual quaternion analysis [C]// Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering,Vol. III WCE London, U. K. 2011: 977–988.

    Google Scholar 

  20. DIXON J C. Suspension geometry and computation [M]. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2009.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. REIMPELL J, STOLL H, BETZLER J W. The automotive chassis engineering principles [M]. Reed: Elsevier and Professional Publishing Ltd, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Mahmoodi-Kaleibar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mahmoodi-Kaleibar, M., Javanshir, I., Asadi, K. et al. Optimization of suspension system of off-road vehicle for vehicle performance improvement. J. Cent. South Univ. 20, 902–910 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1564-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1564-1

Key words

Navigation