NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF VEHICLE BEHAVIOR DURING STRAIGHT-LINE KEEPINGON UNDULATING ROAD SURFACES

Numerical design of vehicles having optimal straight line stability on undulating road surfaces requires an accurate vehicle model based on knowledge of the relevant phenomena. Therefore, vehicle behavior on un dulating straight roads has been analyzed and modeled. Measurements on a flat road surface have shown that the dedicated vehicle model yield s accurate simulation results of the steering response to medium steer ing wheel angle inputs. In addition, the model has been validated by m easuring two vehicle responses during normal driving on an undulating straight road: viz. the responses to the small steering wheel angle in put and to the input by the global inclination of the road surface.