Build a Front Suspension System Model

This section explains briefly how to build and generate reports for a model built in the Truck Library.

For example, follow the steps in the Front end of truck section to build a Front suspension model using the Assembly Wizard. At this point, you have built a complete front suspension.

Features in the model

After building the model, the following model is displayed in the graphics area.
Figure 1.


The model has the following features:
  • Front solid axle suspension has the Leaf springs as a subsystem. The strut, stabilizer bar, and jounce and rebound systems are grouped under the suspension systems.
    Figure 2.


  • Pitman Arm Steering is a separate system with the steering column as a subsystem.
    Figure 3.


  • Individual systems can be turned on and off using the browser.
  • You can select any options in browser or in the modeling window to update their properties.

Events

It is recommended that a simple event be added, such as Kinematics and Compliance (KnC) Analysis, and then the model be simulated as soon as it is built. Events create motions and forces in the model which make the system move. Most events add additional parts to the model to perform the simulation. The following steps outline how to add an event to the previously built model.
  1. Click the Events icon under the Modeling ribbon, to access the Events folder in the Entity Browser.
    Figure 4.


  2. Go to the General folder and double-click on the KnC icon . The event will be added to the model.
    Figure 5.


    Note: The KnC event adds an actuator Jack at each wheel and exercises the wheels with motion and forces to perform Ride Analysis, Roll Analysis, Steering Analysis, Lateral forces and Aligning moments. To learn more, refer to the Front Suspension Analysis Tasks topic.
  3. Select the event (KnC_0) in the Model Browser. Its properties will be shown in the Entity Editor.
  4. Edit the vehicle parameters under the Vehicle parameters section.
    Figure 6.


  5. Edit the distance the wheels will travel during the event in jounce and rebound under the Suspension travel section.
    Figure 7.
    The event is now ready to run.
  6. In the Solutions ribbon, click the Analysis settings dialog satellite icon on the Run icon to open the Run Motion Analysis dialog.
    Figure 8.


  7. Provide a Run name and an Output directory.
  8. Click the Run button.
    MotionSolve is invoked and it displays the solver window with progress as it runs.
  9. After MotionSolve is completed, close the window and return to the MotionView interface.

Reports

Report templates are a series of pre-defined standard sets of plots and/or animation for an event. Reports are a powerful tool for generating engineering information and can be easily customized. The vehicle library events have pre-defined report templates that help generate the required plots and animation with a few clicks.

To view reports:

  1. Click Reports ribbon icon under the Solutions group.
    The View Reports Wizard opens.
  2. Select the MSolve Standard Report Model option from the View Reports window and click OK.
    Figure 9.


    A series of pages with plots (37 plots and an animation page at the end) are added to the session. Use the page navigation icon at the top right corner to navigate pages and review the plots.
    Figure 10.