Current Research
Real-Time Dynamic Parameter Estimation for Vehicle Systems
Principal investigator:
Graduate student:
Joshua Tarbutton
Brief abstract:
The research focuses on investigating the performance of the vehicle modeling process performed by 4- and 7-post shaker testing facilities. The vehicle model, which currently consists of a Frequency Response Function (FRF), will be analyzed in terms of its accuracy, repeatability, fidelity and uncertainty. By analyzing the performance of the FRF, we can better understand its effect on fatigue/durability testing, Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH), vehicle suspension tuning and race track performance. Tailored tests and designed experiments will be used on a 7-post shaker to reduce the extremely large design space for this research to manageable areas of improvement. With this knowledge, efforts will be directed to enhance the modeling process to overcome identified deficiencies.
Impact:
Customers of 4- and 7-post shakers such as passenger vehicle OEMs performing fatigue/durability and ride comfort tests, NASCAR teams optimizing suspension geometry and damping, and farm equipment OEMs simulating durability and crop damage, will all benefit from a better understanding of the underlying model used to simulate drive inputs to their test specimen. In addition, further areas of research and focus will be identified as a result of this work.
Project schedule:
June 1, 2008, to December 31, 2009