Numerical Methods for High-Speed Vehicle Dynamic Simulation

Recent developments in numerical methods for high-speed vehicle dynamic simulation in the multiuniversity Automotive Research Center sponsored by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center are summarized and illustrated. The prior state-of-the-art is reviewed, and computational developments focusing on both computer-aided engineering applications with stiff equations and driver-in-the-loop real-time vehicle system simulation are presented. To illustrate gains achieved in computational efficiency and reliability, realistic handling models of the Army's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle are simulated and compared to results obtained using previous methods. A demonstration of two orders of magnitude speed-up for stiff vehicle models characteristic of those employed by vehicle developers in computer-aided engineering is presented. Achievement of real-time simulation on computing platforms integral to emerging driving simulators that are establishing new capabilities for virtual proving ground simulation is presented.