Design studies for a new suspension mechanism

Abstract

Development of innovative suspension mechanisms and optimization of their elastokinematic performances are usually studied by applying static constraints on the numerical model of the mechanism. During the development of the new Michelin optimized contact patch multilink suspension concept, a two-dimensional semi-analytical model is studied in order to validate it. After writing the loop closure equations and obtaining systems of multivariate polynomials, the method consists in using the determinant of Sylvester's matrix to solve them. The paper presents the design studies to determine the influence of the geometric parameters of the mechanism on the variation of the camber and the half-track under lateral loads.