Simulation of Vehicle and Power Steering Dynamics Using Tire Model Parameters Matched to Whole Vehicle Experimental Results

Abstract

This paper uses simulation to investigate how vehicle loading conditions (driver only, passengers, cargo, and fuel) affect power steering system and overall vehicle dynamics. Our purpose of the study was to evaluate the power steering system model for possible use in the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS). The effects of changing loading conditions on inertial properties of passenger cars have been found experimentally using a Vehicle Inertia Measurement Facility (VIMF). This paper presents simulation results using a vehicle handling model combined with a power steering system model and a nonlinear tire model. A crucial part of this project was the adjustment of certain parameters of Pacejka's tire model in order to match simulation results with experimental measurements of vehicle and power steering variables in transient maneuvers.