Front SLA (2pc LCA)
A Short-Long Arm (SLA) suspension configuration is also known as a Double Wishbone suspension. The SLA name is derived from the length of the control arms. The lower arm is typically long to provide a good spring lever ratio. The upper arm is typically short to provide the proper camber curve. This suspension is widely used on cars, light trucks, and on independent suspension heavy trucks. The two-piece lower control arm is the only difference between the two front SLA suspensions.
In conventional designs the coil spring (or optionally a torsion bar), shock absorber, and jounce bumper act between the lower control arm and chassis. The lower control arm carries most of the load and defines the motion of the lower ball joint location on the knuckle. The upper control arm carries smaller loads and defines the motion of the upper ball joint location on the knuckle. The steering motion of the knuckle is controlled by the tie rod and the motion of the steering system. In the vehicle library the steering systems contain the tie rod.
Model Use
- The wheel body represents the mass and inertia of the tire and the rim.
- The wheel hub body represents the mass and inertia of other rotating bodies such as a brake rotor, but not the half-shafts if the suspension is driven. The wheel hub and brake rotor have no associated graphics.
- The wheel and wheel hub parts use the Wheel CG location as the center of gravity.
- The upper control arm bushings are defined so their axes are parallel. If the front bushing is moved, both the front and rear bushing realign so they have the same axis of rotation. The lower control arm bushings’ rotational axes are defined in the same manner.
- When the suspension is switched from Compliant to Kinematic, the upper control arm bushings are replaced with a single revolute joint located at the forward bushing, with a rotational axis directed along the line from the forward bushing to the rear-ward bushing. The lower control arm bushings are replaced with a revolute joint in the same fashion.
- Each body’s Center of Gravity (CG) is estimated from the body’s geometry. The formulas are coded into the point panel and can be seen via the graphical user interface. If more accurate CG locations are available they should be used.
- The point giving the location of the ball joint between the suspension knuckle and steering tie rod point (outer tie rod ball) resides in the steering system.
- A wide variety of combinations of suspensions and subsystems can be built using the
Assembly Wizard. You are encouraged to build systems and
understand the resulting model using the graphical user interface.
When building a new suspension model, build the model with all of the optional systems (stabilizer bar, etc) included in the model. Immediately turn off the systems using the Project Browser and run an analysis on the base suspension to ensure it solves properly. As data becomes available for the optional systems; activate those systems and populate them with data.
Points
Bodies
Optional subsystems may add bodies to the suspension, for example the shock absorber adds two bodies: a shock rod and shock tube.
Bushings and Joints
Label | Type | Body 1 | Body 2 | Point | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower Ball Joint | Spherical | Knuckle | Lower Control Arm | Lower Ball Joint | |
Upper Ball Joint | Spherical | Knuckle | Upper Control Arm | Upper Ball Joint | |
Wheel Spindle | Revolute | Wheel Hub | Knuckle | Wheel Center | |
Wheel Hub Fix Jt |
Fixed Joint | Wheel | Wheel Hub | Wheel Center | When Spindle compliance is set to Yes, the joint type changes to universal and a bushing is superimposed to model the wheel bearing compliance. |
Tension Strut Bush | Universal | Tension Strut | Subframe, Vehicle Body, or Ground | Tension Strut Bush | When the Compliant option is set to No, this joint compliance is turned "Off" and behaves as a pure universal joint. |
LCA Bushing | Bushing | Lower Control Arm | Subframe, Vehicle Body, or Ground | LCA Rear Bush | When the Compliant option is set to No, this joint compliance is turned "Off" and behaves as a pure universal joint. |
UCA Front Bush | Bushing | Upper Control Arm | Upper Control Arm | UCA Front Bush | When the Compliant option is set to No, this bushing becomes a revolute joint. |
UCA Rear Bush | Bushing | Upper Control Arm | Subframe, Vehicle Body or Ground | UCA Rear Bush | When the Compliant option is set to No, this bushing is deactivated. |
Similar Suspensions
Front SLA (1pc LCA)
Rear SLA (1pc LCA)
Rear SLA (2pc LCA)