Application Area 3: Defining Hard Points (or design points) in a Suspension

A complex multibody system such as an automobile consists of several subsystems, such as a front suspension. The suspension is required to satisfy several design objectives. Consider the suspension system shown below. As the ride height changes, the toe angle of the wheels also changes.



Figure 1.


Figure 2.

The toe angle vs ride height for the current design is shown in blue below. The desired toe vs. ride height curve is shown in red with green dots.



Figure 3.
Design Objective
Modify the suspension such that the toe vs. ride height curve matches a target curve.
Design Variables
The Y- and Z-coordinates of the inner tie-rod ball joint and the outer tie-rod ball joint. This in effect controls the length of the tie-rod.