Evaluations of the Racing Kart Dynamic Behavior With Flexible Multibody Dynamic Analysis

Abstract

This paper deals with a dynamic analysis of a racing kart considering an elastic deformation of the kart frame. As the first step of this research, the FEM kart frame model was validated by means of static and dynamic tests. In the static test, the strain on the kart frame caused by a steering operation was measured by strain gauges, and compared to the simulation result. The dynamic response of the frame was evaluated by hammering test, and the result was compared to the modal analysis result. Next, a flexible multibody vehicle model was developed with this FEM frame model. In this process, model reduction based on the modal analysis is applied to reduce the degree of freedom of the flexible body. Some running tests with actual racing kart were carried out to evaluate the handling characteristic, and the comparison between simulation and experiment are discussed.