Multi-objective-reliability-based optimisation of a farm tractor front axle suspension

This paper deals with the design and optimisation of a front suspension to be fitted on a standard low range farm tractor. The design process has been completed by using state-of-the-art robust multi-objective methods. Two complete, fully modular and parametric vehicle models of the farm tractor have been realised and experimentally validated. The inertia parameters and the tyres characteristics have been directly measured to get a good match between the response of models and of the actual vehicle. The models have then been modified to implement different suspension layouts. The described optimisation process has proved to be cost-effective and time-saving, and it can be generalised for complex vehicles and vehicle subsystems design.