Finite element models for vehicle leaf spring suspensions
1.School of Transportation and Vehicle Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; 2.Traffic Senior Technical School of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong 250200, China; 3.Weichai Power Co., Ltd., Weifang, Shandong 261001, China
Abstract： Based on the structure and working characteristics of leaf spring suspension, four basic conditions were investigated to satify the finite element model of leaf spring. The stiffness of leaf was obtained through stiffness test to be used in simulation model. Five different simplified models of leaf spring suspensions were proposed. The FEA model of fringebeam truck frame was built in ANSYS by the shell element. The analyses of truck frame combined with different leaf spring suspension models were conducted under bending condition with vertical load and under braking condition with both vertical load and longitudinal load. Five different simplified models of leaf spring suspensions were summaried. Combined with analysis example of truck bending condition and braking condition, the advantages and the disadvantages of the five models and the satisfaction of the four basic conditions were analyzed. The results show that the equivalent curved plate model in model 3 can be effectively used to simulate the no deputy spring leaf spring suspension, while deputy spring models are more suitable for model 5, and both of them can meet the basic requirements.
2015, Vol. 36 
