STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF SUSPENSION SYSTEMS UTILIZING FEM METHODOLOGY

Abstract

Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that
connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose contributing to the vehicles
handling and breaking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping occupants comfortable
and reasonably well isolated from road noise and vibrations. The leaf spring suspension also protects
vehicle itself and any cargo or luggage from damage and wear. In this project a leaf spring system is
designed in Catia V5 tool and then finite element analysis is used to estimate the load that acts on the
suspension and stresses and deflections in the suspension under the load is analyzed .These values vary
as the boundary conditions of the tests are changed and are compared to a predetermined value from a
reliable source. In analysis, the model is carried out in Ansys tool to determine the natural frequencies
and corresponding node shapes. And load analysis is also performed to estimate the frequency response
to see the stability of the suspension. A static analysis is also carried out to estimate the deflection and
stresses due to working conditions .the design safety is ensured based on strength and rigidity.