Vehicle Cornering Performance Evaluation and Enhancement Based on CAE and Experimental Analyses

A full-vehicle analysis model was constructed incorporating a SLA (Short Long Arm) strut front suspension system and a multi-link rear suspension system. CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) simulations were then performed to investigate the lateral acceleration, yaw rate, roll rate, and steering wheel angle of the vehicle during constant radius cornering tests. The validity of the simulation results was confirmed by comparing the computed value of the understeer coefficient (Kus) with the experimental value. The validated model was then used to investigate the steady-state cornering performance of the vehicle (i.e., the roll gradient and yaw rate gain) at various speeds. The transient response of the vehicle was then examined by means of simulated impulse steering tests. The simulation results were confirmed by comparing the calculated values of the phase lag, natural frequency, yaw rate gain rate, and damping ratio at various speeds with the experimental results. A final series of experiments was then performed to evaluate the relative effects of the cornering stiffness, initial toe-in angle, and initial camber angle on the steady-state and transient-state full-vehicle cornering handling performance. The results show that the handling performance can be improved by increasing the cornering stiffness and initial toe-in angle or reducing the initial camber angle.

Numerical Analysis and Simulation of the Straightening Process of Heavy Rails on a Horizontal Roller-Straightening Machine

In this paper, the ABAQUS is adopted to carry on numerical simulation on straightening process of R65 heavy rail. The straightening process has been simulated here using the FE package of ABAQUS. All the input data were extracted from experimental tests according to tail manufacturing. Moreover, initial camber of the rail was measured after hot rolling and cooling process.

Seismic Analysis of Single-Layer Latticed Domes Composed of Welded Round Pipes Considering Low Cycle Fatigue

Member failure due to low cycle fatigue may occur for steel structures under strong earthquakes. In this paper, the seismic response of single-layer latticed domes composed of welded round pipes is analyzed by the software Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (OpenSees) incorporating low cyclic fatigue, in which the equations of initial camber for members are obtained from the buckling coefficient curve of compression members in Chinese codes. Single-layer latticed domes composed of welded round pipes with different parameters are modeled, and the seismic responses of the domes with and without material fatigue are compared by the incremental dynamic analysis. The results show that under strong earthquakes, the seismic responses including the maximum displacements and plastic development of the domes with fatigue are larger than those of the domes without fatigue. The collapsed PGAs decrease by 10–25% if low cycle fatigue is incorporated. Therefore, the low cycle fatigue of material should be taken into account in the seismic analyses of single-layer latticed domes under strong earthquakes.

Simulation Analysis on Construction of Liangjiang Great Bridge

Liangjiang Great Bridge is the prestressed concrete continuous rigid frame bridge with high pier and long-span. It adopts the segmented cantilever construction method. The process of its construction is the key to the construction control simulation analysis. In this paper, based on the characteristics of the bridge construction, finite element method is used to establish the simulation model. Cantilever construction stages and closure stages of bridge are simulated and analyzed. The structure deflection diagrams in the each section construction and the later construction considering the creep and shrinkage of concrete are obtained. The initial camber of each segment is given in the construction. The stress characteristics of key section are analyzed in the construction process. It provides a basis for monitoring and on-site construction of bridge and the reference for similar bridge construction.