Design, Analysis, and Comparative Study of Conventional Double Wishbone Control Arms with Modified Split Type Control Arms Design for a Passenger Car

Abstract

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">In today's automotive industry, the preference for suspension systems in high-end passenger vehicles is shifting away from conventional MacPherson or double wishbone setups and toward advanced double wishbones with split-type control arms or multi-link suspensions. This shift not only enhances the ride and handling experience but also introduces greater design complexities.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper explains the design limitations of the conventional double wishbone front suspension (with 2 ball joints) and the opportunities presented by advanced double wishbone suspension designs, including split-type lower control arms (with 3 ball joints) and double split-type control arms (with 4 ball joints). Replacing either of the rigid links (upper/lower) of the conventional double wishbone suspension with a four-bar mechanism in the case of split-type control arm wishbone suspension significantly alters the behavior of the kingpin axis, leading to consequential effects on steering and suspension parameters.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">The study presented in this paper analyzes the kinematic behavior of the split-type control arm suspension system and its influence on vehicle parameters such as Steering Rack Placement in relation to the wheel center. Furthermore, this study also compares the lateral and longitudinal movement of the wheel center and wheel envelopes with that of a conventional double wishbone suspension design.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In summary, this study provides information about how split-type suspensions work and perform. The comparative analysis with a conventional double wishbone suspension offers a comprehensive perspective on the potential advantages of adopting this advanced suspension configuration in automotive design.</div></div>