Influences of Suspension Kinematics on Pitching Dynamics of Cars in Longitudinal Manoeuvring

SUMMARYThe pitching and bouncing responses of a generic car to step inputs of braking and driving torques at front and rear axles are examined via a simulation model. The car is represented as travelling in a straight line on a flat road surface. It has longitudinal and vertical translational freedoms and can rotate in pitch. Front and rear suspensions include generalised anti-dive properties. The tyres are vertically compliant and they develop longitudinal force in response to slip, according to an empirical description. Body bounce, body pitch and tyre load transfer results are shown for a number of cases involving braking at front or rear and driving at front or rear with different anti-dive designs. Patterns in the results are established and conclusions about anti-dive geometries and the consequences of their adoption are drawn.