Issue 43

P. Zampieri et alii, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 43 (2018) 191-204; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.43.15 202 The assessment of the prediction capability of the performed simulations has been carried out, first of all, by comparing the numerical and experimental shock absorber stroke vs. rigid wall displacement curves (Fig. 21.a). The numerical results have been compared with the results achieved by two experimental tests, carried out with pitch angles of 0° and 5.94°, respectively. According to Fig. 21.a, the numerical curve fits properly the experimental curve related to the 0° pitch angle up to a wheel displacement of 250 mm; after that, the numerical curve slope decreases and the curve fits better the experimental one related to a 5.95° pitch angle. As a result, a good agreement has been achieved. Figs. 21.b and 21.c show the stroke and the rigid wall displacement vs. time curves, respectively. The numerical contact force between tyres and the rigid wall has been illustrated in Fig. 22. Figure 21 : a) Shock absorber stroke vs. rigid wall displacement curves; b) shock absorber stroke vs. time curves; c) rigid wall displacement vs. time curves. Figure 22 : Contact force between tyres and rigid wall. (a) (b (c)