Vehicle Dynamics
With the Dymola Vehicle Dynamics solutions, the user is given a toolbox for full vehicle modelling. With a hierarchical structure, templates and predefined suspensions and components the configuration of different vehicles is convenient and straight-forward. Component-based drag-and-drop modelling allows for the flexible design of new topologies and combination with other Modelica libraries, facilitating e.g. hybrid electric vehicle and active system development.
Across all the Vehicle Dynamics libraries there are two main types of suspension models: tabular suspension where wheel motion constraints are described by table input, and geometric suspension where the actual mechanical topology is described by links, joints, and bushing elements. Tabular suspension models are convenient to use when empirical suspension data from K&C analysis is used for model tuning. The geometric suspension models are useful to study the effects of mechanical re-design, or to analyse or design actively controlled suspension with embedded actuators. The library is available in 3 different variants:
A collection of variants of common suspension designs such as McPherson, trailing arm, double wishbone, multi-link, twist beam, and rigid axle are pre-defined and ready-to-use. For users that want to design their own suspensions, there are standard multibody primitives such as joints and bodies and dedicated components such as bushings, leaf springs, links, struts and hubs. This range of components and templates allows the suspensions to be modelled as kinematic or elasto-kinematic systems.
Further information on the Vehicle Dynamics Cars Library can be found here.
The library contains many components that are specific to heavy vehicles, including axles, twin tires, couplings, frames, and cabins. Leaf springs are commonly used for both axle guidance and load support. The constituent models may account for the nonlinear kinematic effects. Suspension load characteristics vary from linear to tabular or physical models such as air springs. The frame elasticity influences the load distribution between the axles and thus the available grip from the tires.
Further information on the Vehicle Dynamics Trucks Library can be found here.
VDLMotorsports is an extension to the Vehicle Dynamics library and builds on the capabilities incorporated in the Vehicle Dynamics library. It provides optimised suspension models for motorsport applications including double wishbone with pushrod/pullrod suspensions. The suspension mechanisms include the full range of adjustments that are applied in a physically correct manner.
The suspension models are fully compatible with the standard Vehicle Dynamics library which enables them to be used in all the standard test rigs and dynamic simulation experiments. Additional experiments are provided within the VDLMotorsports library to run setup calculations, steady state initialisations and for half-car suspension kinematics including the tyre.
Further information on the Vehicle Dynamics Motorsports Library can be found here.
Aerospace
