A Monte Carlo Parametric Sensitivity Analysis of Automobile Handling, Comfort, and Stability

Abstract

This paper investigates the bandwidth sensitivity of automobile handling, comfort, and stability based on Monte Carlo sensitivity simulations. Performed bandwidth sensitivity simulations include the effects of vehicle geometry and suspension parameters on lateral acceleration, roll angle, front/rear sideslip angles, and yaw rate angle, including both time- and frequency-domain sensitivity analyses. To replicate actual automobile responses, a full-vehicle roll-oriented suspension seven-degree-of-freedom (7-DOF) model was developed and implemented considering a 2-DOF planar two-track model with a nonlinear Pacejka tire model. During the Monte Carlo simulations, 10 mm and 20 mm amplitude sine-wave excitations were used for the left and right sides, respectively, and the frequency was uniformly sampled over the range of 0–30 Hz. Simultaneously, each investigated vehicle parameter varied by ±25% relative to the reference model parameters. These simulations illustrate the sensitivity of the lateral acceleration, roll angle, yaw angle, and sideslip angles to their parameter variations. The results confirm that the road excitation frequency, tire properties, vehicle geometry, and suspension parameters significantly influence the vehicular lateral and roll stabilities when considering the lower and higher peaks and the frequency bandwidths of the lateral and roll stabilities. Interestingly, the longitudinal location of the center of gravity and the tire properties can achieve more significant peak lateral stability responses, as represented by the front and rear sideslip angles and the frequency bandwidth, compared to the other vehicle parameters at high frequencies. Choosing the correct tire properties and vehicle geometry, as well as suspension characteristics, plays an essential role in increasing the vehicular lateral stability and the rollover threshold. Variations in the studied parameters allow for higher vehicular stability when a vehicle is driven on random road surfaces.