Optimal combination of design parameters for improving the kinematics characteristics of a midsize truck through design of experiment

Abstract

This paper optimizes the combination of design parameters for improving the kinematic characteristics of a midsize truck using both design of experiment and computer simulation. A computational model of the front suspension and steering system of a midsize truck is developed for analyzing kinematic and compliance characteristics. A taper leaf spring is modeled as a flexible body using finite elements. A bump mode test is performed to validate the reliability of the developed computational model. Mean absolute values of the toe angle and wheel base change are used as objective functions. Modifiable hard points are selected as design parameters. An optimal combination of design parameters for improving kinematic characteristics is suggested based on analyses of variance and factor effects using a table of orthogonal arrays.