An Accurate Full Car Ride Model Using Model Reducing Techniques

In this study, an approach to obtain an accurate yet simple model for full-vehicle ride analysis is proposed. The approach involves linearization of a full car MBD (multibody dynamics) model to obtain a large-order vehicle model. The states of the model are divided into two groups depending on their effects on the ride quality and handling performance. Singular perturbation method is then applied to reduce the model size. Comparing the responses of the proposed model and the original MBD model shows an accurate matching between the two systems. A set of identified parameters that makes the well-known seven degree-of-freedom model very close to the full car MBD model is obtained. Finally, the benefits of the approach are illustrated through design of an active suspension system. The identified model exhibits improved performance over the nominal models in the sense that the accurate model leads to the appropriate selection of control gains. This study also provides an analytical method to investigate the effects of model complexity on model accuracy for vehicle suspension systems.