Completed Research
Natalia SLS2 Suspension Concept
Principal investigators:
Graduate students:
Evan Cogansperger, Emanuel Fadini and Jeff Reno
Sponsor:
DiMora Motorcar
Brief abstract:
Suspension technology options are being assessed for the DiMora Motorcar Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedan. The Natalia’s operational envelope poses unique challenges as it must thrive in all passenger road vehicle environments, including those of inclement weather. Therefore, the suspension must be compatible with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and have the ability to clear common road obstacles. It must also be controllable at very speeds higher than 240 mph, so body response to driver inputs and road excitations must be well controlled across an extraordinarily broad speed range. A unique design-driven requirement is the use of 275/40R24 tires.
Using numerous advanced digital design and verification processes researchers have focused on Natalia’s suspension concept in an effort that included benchmarking, architecture development and verification of applicability through multi-body modeling and simulation, system-level requirements propagation to components, and design and virtual verification of preliminary suspension components. From preliminary DiMora Motorcar vehicle parameters and CAD for Natalia, researchers generated a solution that includes SLA architectures for front and rear suspensions, titanium control arms and wheel carriers, and combination air spring and damper units. The concept design services the requirement for AWD, minimizes component masses and protects for the potential inclusion of Rear Wheel Steering, in case Natalia needs such to enhance directional stability at top speeds.
Preliminary results:
At this point in vehicle development, the concept design will help DiMora Motorcar package other vehicle systems while working with the knowledge that the vehicle has package protection for a suspension that can yield the right levels of performance.
Project schedule:
August to December 2008
