HEAVY DUTY TRUCK RIDE-COMFORT ANALYSIS BY COMPUTER SIMULATION

The vibration and ride–comfort of some heavy duty trucks was analyzed by the simple model developed by finite element method. Ride–comfort of heavy duly trucks is significantly influenced by bending vibration of the frame, so the frame was modeled by a BAR element having a number or different cross sections, so a separate model as a rigid body was established. For non–linear components such as mounting rubber, tyre, leaf spring, the best data from specific areas of vibration were selected for inputting into the model and corrections were added to the model. For modeling check, frequency response of consolidating several kinds of component models was calculated in the initials stage of the system model. Each component model was consolidated with the frame model to obtain the system model. From this system model calculation results of frequency response and PSD response were obtained for making comparison will actual test and were found to be sufficient to make qualitative evaluation of ride–comfort. Consequently this simulation method was used in design stages, such as development or cab–suspension and improvement or ride–comfort of tractor pulling trailer.