Example of experimental validation and calibration of a finite element model of a heavy vehicle

An example of the experimental validation ofafinite element model of a selected heavy vehicle is presented in the paper. A truck tractor with a three axle single drop lowboy trailer and the total weight of 20 tons was selected as a representative for the tests. The major goal of the conducted studies was to develop a well validated the numerical model of a heavy vehicle applicable for computer simulation of dynamic interaction between a vehicle and a bridge or road structure. Therefore, only several components of the vehicle, affecting the vehicle-road interaction, like wheels and the suspension systems, were modelled in detail. The rest of components were simplified and considered as rigid bodies. The finite element model included fully pneumatic tires and the suspension system modelled with discrete massless springs and dampers. Numerical analyzes were performed using the LS-DYNA computer code. The validation and calibration procedure proposed in the current paper was carried out in two steps. In the first one, some parameters such as material densities, thickness of selected elements, were modified to achieve the correct mass distribution in the model based on the measured axle loads. In the next step the stiffness and damping parameters of the suspension system were evaluated based on the results of the experimental tests. The spring and damping coefflcients at all axles were adjusted until the performance of the FE model closely matched that of the actual vehicle.