Suspension Model Verification
Verify and validate axle subsystem design models used in vehicle development.
Verifying suspension models is critical to ensure that axle and suspension subsystems perform as predicted in vehicle simulations. OEMs, tier-one suppliers, and research labs conduct these tests to confirm that design models accurately capture stiffness, damping, and dynamic response. Accurate model verification reduces the risk of over- or under-designed components, improves correlation between CAE simulations and physical vehicles, and supports efficient optimization of ride, handling, and NVH before expensive full-vehicle prototypes are tested.
Test Methods
Suspension model verification uses controlled laboratory methods to measure subsystem stiffness, compliance, damping, and dynamic response in comparison to digital models. Techniques include quasi-static loading to capture force-deflection relationships, multi-axis frequency sweeps to evaluate dynamic stiffness and damping, and random or transient excitations to replicate real-world operating conditions. Boundary conditions mimic in-vehicle constraints such as axle mounts, suspension linkages, and wheel attachments. Hybrid simulation integrates physical dampers with virtual vehicle models to assess subsystem behavior dynamically, enabling engineers to test damping response under simulated vehicle loads. Multi-axis deflection measurements, dynamic kinematic tests, and controlled roadway simulations evaluate ride, handling, and transient maneuvers. Forces, displacements, torques, and vibrations are captured across multiple degrees of freedom to validate model predictions and refine CAE simulations for accurate vehicle-level behavior.
Test Results
Suspension model verification data allows engineers to validate and refine digital models, ensuring accurate prediction of axle and suspension behavior. OEMs and research labs use these results to improve CAE correlation, reduce physical prototype iterations, optimize suspension design, and confirm predicted ride, handling, and NVH performance under controlled laboratory conditions.
MTS Product Solutions
MTS offers a comprehensive portfolio for suspension model verification, providing precise, repeatable measurement of axle and suspension subsystems. FlexTest® controllers, high-fidelity K&C and Dynamic K&C systems, and the Axle Carrier Fixture allow realistic replication of boundary conditions. Flat-Trac® Comfort and Handling Roadways enable evaluation of subsystem contributions to ride and handling. Hybrid simulation with mHIL Damper integrates physical and virtual components, enabling engineers to verify model predictions against real-world behavior in a controlled, laboratory environment.
Test Methods
Suspension model verification uses controlled laboratory methods to measure subsystem stiffness, compliance, damping, and dynamic response in comparison to digital models. Techniques include quasi-static loading to capture force-deflection relationships, multi-axis frequency sweeps to evaluate dynamic stiffness and damping, and random or transient excitations to replicate real-world operating conditions. Boundary conditions mimic in-vehicle constraints such as axle mounts, suspension linkages, and wheel attachments. Hybrid simulation integrates physical dampers with virtual vehicle models to assess subsystem behavior dynamically, enabling engineers to test damping response under simulated vehicle loads. Multi-axis deflection measurements, dynamic kinematic tests, and controlled roadway simulations evaluate ride, handling, and transient maneuvers. Forces, displacements, torques, and vibrations are captured across multiple degrees of freedom to validate model predictions and refine CAE simulations for accurate vehicle-level behavior.
Test Results
Suspension model verification data allows engineers to validate and refine digital models, ensuring accurate prediction of axle and suspension behavior. OEMs and research labs use these results to improve CAE correlation, reduce physical prototype iterations, optimize suspension design, and confirm predicted ride, handling, and NVH performance under controlled laboratory conditions.
MTS Product Solutions
MTS offers a comprehensive portfolio for suspension model verification, providing precise, repeatable measurement of axle and suspension subsystems. FlexTest® controllers, high-fidelity K&C and Dynamic K&C systems, and the Axle Carrier Fixture allow realistic replication of boundary conditions. Flat-Trac® Comfort and Handling Roadways enable evaluation of subsystem contributions to ride and handling. Hybrid simulation with mHIL Damper integrates physical and virtual components, enabling engineers to verify model predictions against real-world behavior in a controlled, laboratory environment.
- FlexTest Controllers provide high-bandwidth, multi-channel control for suspension model verification. They enable accurate multi-axis actuation, force and displacement tracking, and hybrid simulation control, ensuring repeatable and precise correlation of physical subsystems to digital models.
- Hybrid Simulation: mHIL Damper integrates physical dampers with real-time virtual vehicle models, enabling verification of damping characteristics under representative dynamic loading. Engineers can validate CAE predictions while isolating damper behavior from full-vehicle complexity.
- Kinematic & Compliance (K&C) Deflection Measurement Systems measure axle and suspension deflection under controlled loads. Used with the Axle Carrier Fixture, they provide precise stiffness, compliance, and alignment data to validate and refine suspension models.
- Dynamic Kinematic & Compliance (K&C) Systemsadd time-varying excitation to capture frequency-dependent subsystem behavior. Engineers use these systems to validate modal response, damping, and compliance against CAE simulations under realistic operating conditions.
- Axle Carrier Fixtures (ACF) provide a rigid, configurable interface for axle and suspension subsystems. Deployable with K&C, Dynamic K&C, or Flat-Trac systems, it replicates in-vehicle boundary conditions, enabling accurate deflection, stiffness, and dynamic response measurements for model validation.
- Flat-Trac Comfort Roadways enable laboratory simulation of ride-quality events. Paired with the ACF, engineers can assess subsystem contributions to ride and validate CAE predictions of vertical compliance and comfort performance.
- Flat-Trac Handling Roadways simulate steering, cornering, and transient maneuvers in a lab environment. Combined with the ACF, it provides accurate evaluation of suspension subsystem handling contributions and verifies model predictions for lateral and roll dynamics.
