Sensitivity Analysis of Vehicle Parameters on Dynamic Stability and Vehicle Handling Performance

In this paper, a linear two degrees of freedom linear bicycle model is proposed to investigate the vehicle handling criterion. The study is based on simulation developed using MATLAB / Simulink to predict the vehicle dynamic stability. Steering angle is given as an input to the mathematical model for various vehicular manoeuvres. This model is validated using a step input which is adjusted to give 0.3g lateral acceleration. The system model is simulated under a typical front wheel steering to examine the highway vehicle prediction output within its manoeuvre. This input is also adjusted to keep lateral acceleration value in steady state region. It is found that changing the vehicle center of gravity (CG) position, vehicle mass, tire cornering stiffness and vehicle speed all have a significant influence on the vehicle dynamic stability.