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A Nonlinear Finite Element Model for Leaf Springs
Conference proceeding   Peer reviewed

A Nonlinear Finite Element Model for Leaf Springs

Mohamed A Omar, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Ahmed A Shabana, Wei-Yi Loh and Rena Basch
Volume 5: 19th Biennial Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Noise, Parts A, B, and C, Vol.5, pp.529-538
ASME 2003 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sept. 02 - 06, 2003
01/01/2003
DOI: 10.1115/DETC2003/VIB-48360

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Abstract

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element model for the leaf spring that can be used in multibody applications and vehicle dynamic simulations. The floating frame of reference formulation is used in this investigation to model leaf spring nonlinear dynamics. This formulation accounts for the coupling between different modes of deformation as well as the nonlinear coupling between the rigid body motion and the elastic deformation. By employing component mode synthesis techniques, a reduced order model is obtained for the leaf spring while maintaining a good degree of accuracy. The inertia shape integrals can be calculated once in advance using a preprocessor and then stored to be used to automatically generate the nonlinear equations of motion of the leaf spring. The use of a preprocessor to evaluate the inertia shape integrals before the dynamic simulation leads to considerable saving in CPU time and allows the utilization of existing finite element computer codes to obtain the data required for the flexible body simulation. This reduced order model is implemented in a general multibody algorithm in order to examine the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed techniques. As an application, the wind-up deformation of the front suspension system of a typical sport utility vehicle under severe braking condition is investigated.

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