Development of an Active Variable Anti-Roll Bar: A Product Development Project including Design Optimization and Material Selection

Abstract

When a truck is driving through a corner, the body of the truck rolls with regards to the frame. An anti-roll bar, ARB, exist on vehicles to control this rotation by contributing to the truck roll stiffness. In the current trucks, the roll stiffness from the ARB is constant and even though it exists variable ARBs on passenger cars there is no known solution used on trucks. This thesis project attempts to fill this gap and develop a variable ARB adapted for a heavy-duty truck. The aim of the project was to develop a concept of an active variable ARB that can change its contribution to the roll stiffness of the truck. The main approach with the methodology was a product development process performed in four iterations. In addition to this method, engineering optimization is applied and material selected. The project work has found a way to vary the contributing roll stiffness from the ARB on a heavy-duty truck. This solution moves the attachment point where the stabilizer stay is connected to the frame towards the centre of the truck. By doing this, the contributing roll stiffness from the ARB is lowered without changing the characteristics of the existing ARB. The best-suited material for the selected concept is ADI for high performance, low weight and cost.