Abstract:
Rapid advances have been made in the field of vehicle dynamics in terms of improving the ride,
handling and safety using actuators and control systems. Optimising a vehicle’s ride comfort or
handling has led to the development of semi-active suspension systems. Anti-lock braking systems
(ABS) have resulted in significant improvements in vehicle braking whilst maintaining directional
control over the vehicle. These advances have improved vehicle and occupant safety in general, but
there are often some trade-offs. For example, the stopping distance of a vehicle fitted with ABS on
an undulating road is significantly increased compared to braking without ABS. This has severe
implications, especially in the off-road vehicle industry. The effects of spring and damper
characteristics on the braking performance of a sports-utility-vehicle (SUV) on hard rough terrain are
investigated. The approach is simulation based, using an experimentally validated full vehicle model
of the SUV, built in Adams in co-simulation with MATLAB and Simulink. The simulations were
performed on measured road profiles of a Belgian paving and parallel corrugations (or a washboard
road). The results indicate that the suspension system has a significant impact on the braking
performance, resulting in differences in stopping distances of up to 9 m.
