Simulation of vehicle motions on the basis of the finite element method

The finite element method has been applied for a long time to the structural vibration analysis of vehicles using pre-determinate time variable external forces and kinematic excitations. However, the dynamic effects arising in vehicle structures are generated by means of the vehicle motions. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to present a finite element based procedure to the description of vehicle motions in order to determinate more accurately both, the local (structural vibrations) and global (overall motions) dynamic behavior of vehicles. Numerical examples are presented about the effects of the elastic deformation of the chassis on the overall motions of vehicles, using a simple truck finite element model of 1874 degrees of freedom.