16-08-2011, 10:07 AM
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Abstract:
In this paper, we have described a successful approach to enhancing an advanced engineering automotive course via the addition of numerical simulation using Matlab. The main objective of the paper is to show the usefulness and power of Matlab in modeling and analyzing dynamic behavior of vehicle subsystems. The second purpose of this paper is to present the advantages of using Matlab to simulate these systems. Tutorial problems in arrears of analysis and control of suspension responses for the quarter car models are used.
1. INTRODUCTION
An advanced engineering mechanics course teaches students to analyze a variety of dynamical systems using Newtonian and Lagrangean mechanics approaches. The modeling task typically produces linear and nonlinear differential equations that are best solved numerically. The systems with more than two degrees of freedom require considerable analytical and computational effort. In order to prepare students to competently solve these systems numerically, the students must master a suitable programming environment. The user must develop computer programs in FORTRAN or C++. These programming languages are high level languages which require the user to have advanced knowledge and ability to develop subroutines that can resolve differential equations, curve-fitting, matrix manipulation, and graphics. These difficulties can be avoided by using friendly software programs, easy to learn and use.
For proper analysis, design and control of mechanical systems we have software like Matlab and Maple. Unfortunately, often using them in courses taught mechanical engineering students is limited to presenting some aspects of programming without being used for modeling, analysis and design of dynamic systems.
MATLAB® (Matrix Laboratory) is a commercially available software package originally developed in the seventies by Cleve Moler, [4], for convenient numerical computations, especially matrix manipulations. Today it has grown to a high-level technical computing language and interactive environment, for algorithm development, data visualization, data analysis, and numerical computation, widely used in the academic world and in industry, [2]-[5]. MATLAB® is a software package for high performance computation and visualization [3]. The combination of analysis capabilities, flexibilities, reliability and powerful graphics makes MATLAB the premier software package for engineers and scientists [2], [3]. MATLAB provides an iterative environment with more than hundreds of reliable and accurate built-in mathematical functions. These functions provide solutions to a broad range of mathematical problems including: Matrix Algebra, Complex Arithmetic, Linear Systems, Differential Equations, Signal Processing, Optimization, Control and other types of scientific computations [3], [8], [10], and [11].
In this paper, the need for MATLAB as a pedagogical tool in engineering research and teaching is highlighted. For example, the studies of an automobile suspension system, automobile steering system, car lateral and longitudinal control and vibrations control can be easily done in MATLAB environment.
Tutorial problems in arrears of analysis and control of suspension responses for the quarter car models are used to validate the enormous potentials of MATLAB.
