Characteristic study of bushing compliance in consideration of stresses in a vehicle suspension system by the Taguchi method

Abstract The dynamic loads imposed on suspension components during vehicle driving are transferred through bushings and joints. The loads from bushings are important factors in the prediction of the fatigue life of a component and the dynamic characteristics of a vehicle. In this paper, the linear characteristic of a bushing is approximated by finite element analysis and applied to a multi-body dynamic model of the vehicle. The influence of bushing compliance is investigated, considering the dynamically responsive stress of the lower control arm in a virtual proving ground test. With the bushing compliance of the front suspension as a design parameter, the Taguchi method is used in the systematic process of a robust design to reduce the stress value of the lower control arm.