Nonlinear Kinematics and Compliance Simulation of Automobiles

In the automobile industry, kinematics and compliance (K&C) testing is used to evaluate the ride and handling performance of an automobile. The traditional approach to numerical simulation of K&C testing involves the use of multi-body dynamics software, which simplifies the phys-ics by introducing rigid body assumptions. In this Technology Brief, a new methodology for K&C simulation is demonstrated using Abaqus/Standard. This approach differentiates itself from that of traditional rigid body simulations by accounting for component flexibility as well as geometric and material nonlinearities. Results from a nonlinear analysis are shown to be considerably different from those of a rigid body analysis, indicating that component flexibility plays an important role in K&C testing.