The Suspension System of the 2009 Cooper Union FSAE Vehicle: A Comprehensive Design Review
Date Published: 2010-04-12
Paper Number:2010-01-0311
DOI: 10.4271/2010-01-0311
Citation:
Robertson, D. and Delagrammatikas, G., "The Suspension System of the 2009 Cooper Union FSAE Vehicle: A Comprehensive Design Review," SAE Int. J. Passeng. Cars - Mech. Syst. 3(1):366-380, 2010, doi:10.4271/2010-01-0311.
This work details the process employed to design the 2009 Cooper Union FSAE®
suspension system, spanning the overarching design philosophy, configuration
selection, analysis, fabrication, and implementation, while offering
recommendations to those especially new to the field. The design methodology
illustrated here provides a systematic approach to suspension geometry, material
selection, packaging, and construction. Though this paper serves as a starting
point for FSAE® suspension designers, it provides a succinct overview for those
interested in general suspension design fundamentals.
The design process began with the selection of a suspension configuration,
geometries, and kinematics, which were driven in part by tire data, desired bulk
vehicle dynamics characteristics, and overall geometric variability. The springs
and adjustable dampers were then selected as the front and rear anti-roll bar
properties were concurrently designed. The uprights were defined by reconciling
a series of mutually-conflicting constraints imposed by their overall geometry,
the A-arm locations and kinematics, wheel hubs, bearing selection, tie rods
(front), the drive axles (rear), toe adjustment rods (rear), manufacturability,
and mechanical properties.
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