Kinematic and dynamic design of a multi-terrain double-wishbone suspension

This work deals with the individuation of a method to solve and analyse the kinematics of double wishbone suspension. This methodology is consequently applied to an actual case study. Thanks to the Manifattura Automobili Torino support, it was possible to apply the approach to a multi-terrain vehicle with high performance. The particularity of this vehicle is that it has two different suspension configurations with different hights from ground. For the kinematics analysis a completely customable and open-source code is used, as to be perfectly adaptable to the particular vehicle here considered. Some initial work on the suspension was already done previously and it is exploited as starting point of this work. The initial vehicle target regarding the wheel travel and the general layout were already identified together with a starting suspension configuration including the hardpoint’s coordinates. The initial object of this work is to evaluate the suspension kinematics, with the aim to plot the characteristic angles and parameters of the suspension, evaluating the effectiveness and goodness of the suspension. In the second phase the work focuses on the dynamic functioning of the springs and rocker system. The aim is to find the correct springs stiffness required and be able to evaluate the influence of modification in the suspension layout. Since the vehicle soon or later will be produced and sold on the market, there are some verifications required for the production and feasibility of use.