18 Wheel Truck Dynamic and Durability Analysis using Virtual Proving Ground

Virtual proving ground (VPG) simulations have been popular with passenger vehicles. VPG uses LS-DYNA® based non-linear contact Finite Element analysis (FEA) to estimate fully analytical road loads and to predict structural components durability with PG road surfaces and tire represented as Finite elements. Heavy vehicle industry has not used these tools extensively in the past due to the complexity of heavy vehicle systems and especially due to the higher number of tires in the vehicle compared to the passenger car. The higher number tires in the heavy vehicle requires more computational analysis duration compared to the passenger car. However due to the recent advancements in computer hardware, virtual proving ground simulations can be used for heavy vehicles. In this study we have used virtual proving ground based simulation studies to predict the durability performance of a trailer suspension frame, tractor suspension frame and combination of both frames with 18 wheel on a given PG event. The virtual proving ground was also used to predict the stress, strain time histories, spindle loads and the component fatigue life for the given PG event.