26th Aachen Colloquium Automobile and Engine Technology 2017
Effect of Force Vectoring Spring Implementation into a Twistbeam Suspension
Authors
Dr. Andreas Carlitz, Sebastien Allibert, Dr. Thomas Schmitz, Dr. Axel Engels,
Ford Motor Company, Cologne
Summary
A twistbeam is a very cost effective rear suspension architecture, which has drawbacks compared to an independent rear suspension such as lateral compliance during cornering. Common solutions drive high cost and additional weight. The challenge was to find a solution, which reduces the gap to the functional performance
of a multi-link rear suspension. Due to the bush attachment, the set-up of a twistbeam is always a compromise between ride comfort and vehicle dynamics. The target was to determine a way to separate ride comfort and dynamic agility. A solution was found using a special set of springs working as a dynamic anticompliance
mechanism. At the Ford K&C rig a significant reduction of toe compliance was shown and drive evaluations confirmed the vehicle dynamics improvement.
Members of the Austrian Society of Automotive Engineers have access to all lectures of the International Vienna Motor Symposia.