A STUDY OF PARAMETERS INFLUENCING THE VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MEASUREMENTS.

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Patel, H. (2016). A STUDY OF PARAMETERS INFLUENCING THE VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MEASUREMENTS. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This research effort includes hundreds of passenger vehicle wheel alignment measurements and a design of experiments that works to capture the various factorsinfluencing wheel alignment measurements. Of the many things that influence theaccuracy and repeatability of vehicle suspension alignment measurement and adjustment, the design of the suspension can be the most significant. This includes but isnot limited to adjustment configuration, suspension design, static alignment settings,and bushing stiffness.Measurements were taken using a Hunter Pro-Align with DSP700 wheel sensors inthe Motorsports Research Building at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.All vehicles were reviewed and any with suspension damage were rejected prior tomeasurement. The collection of vehicles measured included the category of smallfront wheel drive, full size rear drive, seven passenger SUV, sports car, and race car.A small sporty sedan was also tested and modified to assess bushing stiffness influence.Accuracy of the equipment is not a significant part of this study since after astrong attempt to measure it, we were not able to achieve measurements that couldsense any reasonable measurement errors. The equipment seems to measure to the0.01 degree resolution that it claims. Repeatability was evaluated by performing repeated measurements on the same day, a week apart, and over several months. Typically, ten repeats were made during each session and the standard deviation was compared.The majority of the variability in suspension adjustment and measurement wasdetermined to be from the stiffness (or lack thereof) of the suspension and its bushings.This was found to be the case even for static suspension settings far from the norm.The NASCAR race car with its +6 degree left front (LF) camber had some of the lowestvariation in the whole test.

Details
Author

Patel, Harsh

Title

A STUDY OF PARAMETERS INFLUENCING THE VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MEASUREMENTS.

Physical Description

1 online resource (98 pages) : PDF

Date

2016

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This research effort includes hundreds of passenger vehicle wheel alignment measurements and a design of experiments that works to capture the various factorsinfluencing wheel alignment measurements. Of the many things that influence theaccuracy and repeatability of vehicle suspension alignment measurement and adjustment, the design of the suspension can be the most significant. This includes but isnot limited to adjustment configuration, suspension design, static alignment settings,and bushing stiffness.Measurements were taken using a Hunter Pro-Align with DSP700 wheel sensors inthe Motorsports Research Building at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.All vehicles were reviewed and any with suspension damage were rejected prior tomeasurement. The collection of vehicles measured included the category of smallfront wheel drive, full size rear drive, seven passenger SUV, sports car, and race car.A small sporty sedan was also tested and modified to assess bushing stiffness influence.Accuracy of the equipment is not a significant part of this study since after astrong attempt to measure it, we were not able to achieve measurements that couldsense any reasonable measurement errors. The equipment seems to measure to the0.01 degree resolution that it claims. Repeatability was evaluated by performing repeated measurements on the same day, a week apart, and over several months. Typically, ten repeats were made during each session and the standard deviation was compared.The majority of the variability in suspension adjustment and measurement wasdetermined to be from the stiffness (or lack thereof) of the suspension and its bushings.This was found to be the case even for static suspension settings far from the norm.The NASCAR race car with its +6 degree left front (LF) camber had some of the lowestvariation in the whole test.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Mechanical engineering

Degree

M.S.

Keywords

Alignment
Camber
Influence
Statistical Study
Toe

Subject Area

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor(s)

Tkacik, Peter

Committee Members

Miller, Jimmie
Uddin, Mesbah

Degree Note

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Patel_uncc_0694N_11115

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1673